Another one bites the dust. Carrboro Alderman John Herrera is leaving office early, following neighbor and former Chapel Hill Town Councilman Bill Strom out of the area.
Herrera, who opted against running for a third election, is stepping down five months before the end of his term.
A native of Costa Rica, he was the first Hispanic immigrant elected to a N.C. municipal office in 2001. He is the chairman and co-founder of the Latino Community Credit Union in Durham.
It’s not immediately clear how Carrboro will proceed. Mayor Mark Chilton is on vacation, and the Board of Alderman hasn’t met since June 16. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.
Herrera sent the following message to colleagues:
Dear Mayor, Colleagues and staff:
It is with mixed feelings that I am writing this short note to notify you that I am submitting my resignation to the Board of Alderman of Carrboro. Due to my new change of residence outside of the city limits. I just bought a house in Holly Springs, NC and I am in the process of moving.
It has been a pleasure and an honor to have work with you and served this beautiful town a an Alderman and Mayor Pro-Term. The appreciation for community diversity and the progressive community values that Carrboro has, it is what makes us unique from most towns in North Carolina and in the United States. I am very proud and grateful for the opportunity that Carrboro granted me to be a public servant. I will continue following the new developments of Carrboro and will continue to pray that the Creator always grant you wisdom and knowledge to continue to lead and serve this great community of Carrboro.
My most sincere greetings to all of you. If I can be of help in any capacity and I am able to help, please do not hesitate to contact me. Please let me know if there is an official protocol that I need to follow to do this. I will like to have had the chance to thank in a public meeting all the people of Carrboro for this unique opportunity.
Sincerely,
John A. Herrera
