Norristown council president resigns
The Norristown council president has resigned after admitting that she had been living outside of her council district since summer.
The Norristown council president has resigned after admitting that she had been living outside of her council district since summer.
In an email Thursday evening to the council and staff, Linda Christian said she had struggled with unemployment until recently, and had lost her home of 21 years to foreclosure. She said she was still living in the municipality and had a "promising" lead on a new residence within the district.
The resignation, she wrote, was necessary "to prevent hateful, gossipy people from telling my story their way."
Over the last week, two community activists began questioning Christian about her residence, and shared the information with council members and reporters.
Norristown's municipal charter requires that the four district council members "be and remain a resident of the district in which [they are] elected."
Councilman Marlon Millner, who has had an acrimonious relationship with the council president, said that rather than blaming the gossip mill, Christian should have stepped down months ago, when she knew she was no longer qualified for office.
Even so, Millner said, he was sorry to see her go. "Despite our strong differences and political battles," he said, "I can say she did care about Norristown, about the Third District, and has served the municipality for many years."
Councilman Derrick Perry said he was "in shock" and didn't know anything about Christian's residency until a constituent emailed him Thursday.
Christian and the activist who allegedly exposed her did not return requests for comment Friday.
Christian was appointed in 2007, then won elections in 2009 and 2013 to represent the Third District, on the north side of town bordering East Norriton. Term limits would have prevented her from running again.
Council members are paid $4,000 a year, and the president $6,000 a year.
The council, by majority vote, must appoint a replacement within 30 days. An election to fill the remainder of her term would be held with the April 26 primary.
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