Watauga councilwoman with criminal record still on ballot despite resignation
Danielle Tucker, who resigned from the Watauga city council last month, is still listed on the Nov. 3 ballot.
City manager Andrea Gardner said in an email to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that there was no request to remove Tucker’s name from the ballot. If she receives one vote, Tucker can regain her council seat.
Tucker did not return voice mail messages or a message left on her Facebook campaign page to explain why she resigned. The Star-Telegram received a response which said, “Thanks for your message. We’re away and can’t respond right now.”
In her resignation letter, Tucker stated that it was effective as of Aug. 16. She was appointed in May to fill the Place 1 seat after Scott Prescher resigned from the council.
The city council accepted Tucker’s resignation during the Aug. 24 meeting.
Tucker has a credit card fraud and drug possession record. She was charged and pleaded guilty to credit/debit card abuse in 2003, and she was sentenced to two years probation, according to Tarrant County court records. The case was closed in 2006 after a deferred adjudication probation term.
In 2018, Tucker was convicted of a misdemeanor offense of marijuana possession under two ounces, sentenced to 15 days in jail and fined $277.
City attorney George Hyde told the Star-Telegram previously that Tucker met the qualifications listed in Watauga’s charter to hold office.
Mayor Arthur Miner said the council “acted in good faith to appoint Tucker. My initial interviews with her were very good,” he said. “I’m sorry things turned out this way.”
This story was originally published September 22, 2020 at 5:30 AM.