Councilman Nelson resigns to help with wife’s health needs

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  • Gordon Nelson
    Gordon Nelson
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Lampasas City Councilman Gordon Nelson submitted a letter of resignation to the city on Feb. 9, stepping down from the Place 3 seat to which he was elected in November.

“I didn't want to resign, but it wouldn't have been fair to the public if I stayed on, because I couldn't go to the meetings,” Nelson told the Dispatch Record.

Nelson and his wife, Pauline, both have had COVID-19 and pneumonia. Nelson was hospitalized at AdventHealth Rollins Brook for about 2½ weeks in December and was released just before Christmas. His wife had a much longer struggle and remained in area healthcare facilities for about six weeks, including two weeks in a rehabilitation center in Temple before she was able to return home.

Because his wife was bedridden for so long, she lost much of her strength. Nelson said he can leave her for brief periods during the day to run errands, but he cannot leave her alone at night – when City Council meetings are scheduled.

The couple have been married more than 50 years.

“Like I told the city manager, it was either her or the council, and I need to be there for [Pauline],” Nelson said.

He said he is concerned about several issues facing the city, adding “I'm still going to preach” about the values on which he campaigned.

Third Street needs to be redone, Nelson said, as he mentioned one project that remains to be tackled.

For now, Nelson plans to follow the advice he said City Manager Finley deGraffenried offered: “Get well, get your wife well and come back … run again.”