Florence releases the names of residents who will appear on the Aug. 2 ballot

Olivia Johnson

May 3

The Florence residents who will appear on the August special election ballot were released Tuesday.

The special election was announced March 23 for the City of Florence to replenish vacant city council seats. After all six previous city council members resigned within hours of one another March 22, Interim City Manager Tom Piltingsrud and Mayor Paul Villagrana were left to fill the empty seats.

Florence City Council resigns, leaving mayor as only elected official

Councilors Brian Allen, Anthony Esquibel, Melissa Hardy, Allen Knisley, Mike Vendetti and Kristal Wood all resigned within hours of each other, leaving Mayor Villagrana as its lone elected official. The former council resigned en masse because of issues, ranging from internal conflict, forensic audit difficulties, and budget issues, prompting an unprecedented situation for the City of Florence.

Those issues came to light after the firing of former City Manager Mike Patterson, who was terminated in August 2021 after the city council had learned about allegations of unwanted sexual advances toward city staff. He was arrested Nov. 15, 2021, and is facing two counts of stalking – emotional distress, each a Class 5 felony; sexual contact – no consent, a Class 1 misdemeanor; and providing alcohol to a minor, also a Class 1 misdemeanor.

In response to the abrupt departure of the city council, Piltingsrud and Villagrana announced a special election slated for Aug. 2 and requested that concerned citizens submit petitions to be placed on the ballot.