By Melanie Marshall

Boone town council member Liz Aycock announced Tuesday she will be resigning from her position effective immediately.

“I regret not being able to serve the remainder of my term,” she said. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you.”

Aycock and her husband have purchased property outside of the city limits and sold the home in Boone. She is no longer eligible to serve on the town council. Aycock was elected to town council in 2007 and had five months remaining on her term.

“We are fortunate that our house sold, but I didn’t expect it to sell so quickly,” Aycock said, adding that she was disappointed to have to resign so close to the end of her term.

“She has been a real asset to the council and we’ve worked well together,” said Mayor Loretta Clawson. “We will miss her.”

The council will immediately begin accepting letters of interest in the position and is likely to appoint a replacement at the regular August meeting to serve the remaining four months, according to Clawson.

Aycock’s term would have ended in December of this year. The terms of council members Rennie Brantz and Janet Pepin and Mayor Clawson also end in December.

Filing for the election kicks off Monday morning at the Watauga County Board of Elections office. Citizens seeking appointment for the vacant position until December would still be required to file candidacy if they seek to continue to serve on the council via election.