CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif. — The city of Citrus Heights will need a new mayor after its current one announced he's stepping down Aug. 31.
Mayor Bret Daniels announced he's leaving his elected role and that he and his family will leave the state of California.
“It has been brewing,” Daniels said. “It has been something that we have talked about for a while, a year and a half or so.”
Daniels says his seven-year-old daughter was the biggest reason why the family made the decision, and he blames the environment created by state lawmakers.
“It is mainly in the legislature and the deterioration of parental rights, what is going on in schools and just things like that. The value of your money, your dollar, just that combination of things that just has created a burden,” Daniels said.
He says they will be moving to Kentucky.
The resignation announcement comes with three months left in his term. As a result, starting this weekend, Citrus Heights will be without a mayor, and Citrus Heights City Council is now scrambling to fill the role.
The city operates under a council-manager form of government, where the council selects one of its members to serve as mayor for 12 months.
During his final council meeting Aug. 28, city leaders recognized Daniels for his service to Citrus Heights.
“Bret, you are the most real elected official I have ever met. I love that you are very transparent. You are a human being who remembers who he serves and why he serves,” said fellow Councilmember MariJane Lopez-Taff.
After more than 14 years on the Citrus Heights city council, Daniels says it's time to call it quits.
“It really is a tough decision, but it is the one that we think is right for our daughter more than anything,” Daniels said.
As he packs up at his home, Daniels says he resigned early because he could not find a place to stay within his district and did not want to violate any city rules.
The city of Citrus Heights told ABC10 councilmembers will decide the next step on filling the vacancy at its next meeting Sept. 11.
Daniels hopes the council will let the voters decide who will fill the vacant seat during the November election.
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