Three Bedford City Council seats could be filled by newcomers after the May 12 election.
After six years leading the city, Mayor Jim Story is ready to pass the gavel.Place 1 Councilman Roger Fisher, whose term ends this year, announced this week that he will run for mayor, and he must resign to do so.And term limits will keep Place 2 Councilman Roy Savage from running for re-election.Story, a cost analysis engineer for Bell Helicopter, announced at this week's council meeting that he will not seek re-election."I've been thinking about it for three or four months," he said. "It was a very tough decision. It's gotten to the point where I could be doing a better job at Bell and as mayor, but I feel I'm not doing my best at either one."Story said he also needs more time for his family."I typically use around two weeks of my vacation on mayor stuff," Story said. "In election years, I spend even more. Now, I have a daughter in Austin, a daughter in Chicago and a daughter stationed with her Marine husband in Honolulu. It's difficult to get away to go see them."In 2005, Story won a bid to finish Rick Hurt's unexpired term with 50.9 percent of the vote, defeating seven other candidates, including current Place 5 Councilman Roy Turner.He won his first full term in 2006, defeating current Place 3 Councilman Jim Griffin.Griffin said he isn't interested in running for mayor this year."I have another year of my term and I thoroughly enjoy being a council member," he said.Turner said he won't rule out a run for mayor but "probably won't this year."Savage said this is his last year on the council. "I could run for mayor, but I don't want to," he said. "This report includes material from the Star-Telegram archives.Terry Evans, 817-390-7620Twitter: @NETarrantNewsHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
