By Brandon Evans | Published Sunday, November 29, 2009
After 26 years of serving on the Newark City Council, Lucille Drain resigned this month. At 96 years old, she was the oldest, serving elected official in the state of Texas.
She's spent most of her life volunteering time and energy to the people of Newark. She has volunteered with the fire department, Cub Scouts, ladies auxiliary and the council.
"Anything I could volunteer to help with I did it," Drain said.
Her late husband, Edward Drain, worked with several other men to incorporate the town of Newark in 1951.
"It was a good town to live in," Drain said. "You could go fishing at the lake and leave your fishing pole on the bank. You could go back next week, and it would still be there."
Drain said she is currently under the care of a doctor for several health issues. But a change in the direction of the council and the city is the main reason she is resigning.
In a letter of resignation, dated Nov. 19, 2009, she wrote: "The main reason for resigning early before term ceases, I care not to work with new council members through computers with all the questions and answers cut and dried before meetings."
She said she felt a lot of city business was being discussed by council members and the mayor via e-mails, instead of in a public forum.
"I don't think a city can be run by computers," Drain said.
She also wrote in her letter that the absence of a town attorney at council meetings caused her trepidation.
"We've not had an attorney attend any of our meetings," Drain said.
The council is also considering selling the old baseball park and the community building. Drain feels the city should not sell the properties. The council decided at an October meeting to let voters in the May 2010 election determine whether or not to sell the ballpark.
"It was a surprise to everybody that she resigned," said council member Bob Wells. "It'll be up to the mayor to appoint someone or leave it open until the next election."
"I'd like to thank all the caring people I had to work with - in South Newark," wrote Drain. "I feel I have good reasons for leaving. It will be a pleasure to know I will not have to meet in dirty, dingy, old buildings as the Old Hay Barn and the Old Mule Barn."
Drain isn't the only longtime city official stepping down. The city will lose a tremendous amount of experience when City Secretary Sherry Edgemon retires at the end of this year. She has served as city secretary for 32 years. She is one of the longest serving city secretaries in the state.
The city received more than 60 resumes for the position, but they decided on Tabitha Tucciarone.
"Tabitha has a strong background in accounting and payroll software," Wells said. "She hit the ground running and has taken over all required city secretary duties."
Edgemon said she is ready to retire after decades of service. She also cited health reasons.
