Ward 6 Councilmember Jim Perry announced Tuesday that he will leave office within the next couple of weeks, citing a personal family opportunity as the Ward 6 election to replace him remains unresolved.
Perry made the announcement during Tuesday's City Council meeting, saying that in January 2025 he had already decided not to seek a fourth term, but that in recent months a family opportunity emerged that he described as "time sensitive”; He did not specify the nature of the opportunity.
“I have been fortunate enough to have opportunities come my way and my family was presented with a new adventure, a new way of life and a new journey,” he said in a statement. “Perhaps the downside; it is time sensitive requiring a time to act. We reached the point of having to make a decision and move forward or literally pull the plug, not knowing if or when another chance would come our way. This decision was pushed to the last conceivable moment.”
Perry, who has served the ward since 2013, said he will work with the City Clerk to set a final date of separation. He acknowledged the difficulty of leaving with the election unresolved, but said the timing was unavoidable.
With his departure, the City Council will need to determine how to handle the Ward 6 vacancy, which could last anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on when election results are certified and a successor is seated.
Perry also noted his regional assignments, including the March Joint Powers Authority, will need to be reassigned.
Perry closed his statement by reflecting on roughly 50 years of public service, including a career in law enforcement before joining the council.
“As I was growing up, I had the dream and the goal of becoming a police officer and someday running for elective office,” he said. “Thank you for making that happen and for making this a truly rewarding experience. I only hope you can understand my reasoning and final decision.”
Three candidates ran in the Ward 6 June election, where candidates need over 50 percent of the vote to win outright.
As of June 11, Luis Hernandez leads the race with 50.31% of the vote, with all seven precincts reporting and 28.92% of registered voters having cast ballots. Oz Puerta trails with 28.21% and Norma Berrellez with 21.48%. The County Registrar of Voters will continue counting ballots up until July 2, with the election results certified by July 10.
Puerta said in a statement on his Instagram Friday morning that he has "every intention of seeing this race through to victory."
"We will continue working hard, earning support, and sharing our vision for a safer, cleaner and more prosperous Ward 6," he said.
Puerta also thanked Perry for "more than a decade of service to the residents of Ward 6."
"As someone who works and volunteers in Ward 6, I have seen firsthand the impact of his commitment to public safety, infrastructure improvements, neighborhood quality of life, and economic development," Puerta told the Gazette on Wednesday afternoon. "His accessibility to residents and willingness to engage directly with community concerns set a standard for public service."
Berrellez indicated on June 8 she is not conceding and is awaiting final election certification results, despite trailing in preliminary results.
"I continue to be motivated by my community of voters who believe I will be going to the November election," Berrellez said in a statement to the Gazette. "We are committed to fight until they officially count every vote and announce the victory for the two candidates moving forward."
Correction- Thurs. June 11, 6:30 a.m.
An earlier version of this story misstated the vote totals and percentages for the City Council Ward 6 race. Luis Hernandez leads with 50.31% of the vote, Oz Puerta is second with 28.21%, and Norma Berrellez is third with 21.48%, with all seven precincts reporting. The story has been updated.
