On Monday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m Mayor Don Bradshaw resigned his position as mayor for the City of Winlock, but not before taking a dig at the new council.
Mayor Bradshaw resigned leaving a resignation note: "Do To Failing health brought on by The Miss Conduct of The lawless Council, I will Step away From The Office of Mayor of The City of Winlock as of 1:00 p.m. This Day." Letter printed as written. The council has not done anything illegal but Mayor Bradshaw has, yet he called them lawless.
During his term as mayor, Winlock saw a citizens civil rights violated, an illegal dump on Jones Rd. ignoring the downtown business core in hopes of an industrial park, no paving of SE First Street, even though the money was approved, and the list goes on. It's been a difficult two years, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Mayor Pro Tem Brandon Svenson stated, "I received a call on Monday that Mayor Bradshaw was resigning at 1:00 p.m. Monday. We were not aware he had a heart attack and we wish him a speedy recovery."
The Winlock City Council must vote within 90 days for an interim Mayor. The council can choose someone currently sitting on council or they can choose a citizen.
"The City of Winlock is still open for business, the office staff is here to help the citizens," Svenson continued. "We will meet at our regularly scheduled meeting to discuss what our next plan of action will be. The new council was voted in by the citizens to make changes, we are still on course to see those changes through."
Lewis County Commissioner Bobby Jackson who has been very close to Mayor Bradshaw and has supported his every move, declined to comment on Mayor Bradhshaw's resignation. Jackson did not reach out to the Winlock City Council after Bradshaw resigned, but he did stay in close contact with Bradshaw during the past few weeks.
Ironically, the money for Mickelsen Parkway, which the county had taken over last year, saw the funds released by Washington State Department of Transportation on Wednesday. This means the Parkway will be built this year by Lewis County.