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Fulnecky resigns from council

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Last edited 11:16 a.m., Sept. 20, 2018

Editor’s note: A statement from Kristi Fulnecky has been added below.

Kristi Fulnecky resigned from Springfield City Council after holding her seat since April 2015.

Fulnecky tendered her resignation, effective today, as General Seat C councilwoman, according to a news release.

Fulnecky and her family are moving to a house in Nixa. Council members are required by City Charter to reside within Springfield city limits.

“I thank Kristi for her service to our community and her commitment to public service,” said Mayor Ken McClure, who last year defeated Fulnecky in a mayoral bid, in the release. “As we have frequently said, both as a council and individually, Springfield is a community of volunteers and the community’s success is based upon the willingness of its citizens to be a part of the process and to commit their time and resources to making our home a better place to live. I am grateful for her service.”

In a statement on Facebook, Fulnecky said while she’ll still own a house in Springfield city limits, the home in Nixa will be her principal place of residence.

“Although the City Charter doesn’t define the term ‘residence’ as a ‘principal place of residence,’ I feel it’s only fair to be honest and not try to debate the residency requirement,” she said in the statement. “I really feel like I have been a voice for the people and have given others hope that they are listened to and can make a difference. I’ve always also felt it was important to challenge the status quo, ask questions, not waste taxpayer money and make an independent decision based upon the facts.”

Fulnecky most recently served on the Community Involvement Committee while a member of council.

Her term was set to expire in April 2019, along with that of the mayor and four other council seats. Applications for the seats up for re-election in April 2019 are due to the city by Jan 15, according to a separate news release.

The city plans to soon announce the process to fill Fulnecky’s vacant seat through April.

Fulnecky, who also is president of Fulnecky Enterprises LLC and owner of Fulnecky Law LLC, faced a tax lien notice that was later withdrawn by the IRS leading up to the April 2017 mayoral election. McClure won with 68 percent of the votes, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

Prior to her mayoral run, Fulnecky was accused of being ineligible to run for office in 2015 because of business taxes she owed when elected. Her attorney with the Law Offices of Dee Wampler and Joseph Passanise PC disputed the claims, and she was not disqualified from office.

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