Brotherly love comes first for Jefferson City Councilman Glen Costales.
By way of a note read to the council by his Fourth Ward colleague Carlos Graham, Costales announced his resignation from the city's governing body at its Monday night meeting at City Hall.
"Due to his brother's declining health and his desire to be with him as much as possible, Councilman Costales is resigning from the City Council, effective at the end of the month," Graham read from a hand-written note at the outset of the meeting.
City Clerk Phyllis Powell confirmed the resignation will be effective Nov. 30.
Reached by phone at his older brother Ben's bedside at a hospice in Springdale, Ark., Costales told the News-Tribune Monday night he could not devote the dedication, attention and time necessary to fulfill his obligation to the voters of the Fourth Ward and care for his sibling. Costales was in his second two-year term on the council and had not decided if he would be a candidate for a third term in the April municipal ballot. Powell noted the council had options to replace Costales, including naming a temporary appointee to serve the balance of Costales' term until the election.
Costales' younger brother, Randy, is deceased and Costales is raising his three children, one in high school and the others in ninth grade and eighth grade. Costales' mother also lives in Jefferson City.
He said he was involved in city life before being elected to the city council and would continue to be involved.
"One of the directors with the city told me several years ago I was the first council member who had been a stone thrower before he got elected and was still a stone thrower," Costales said with a chuckle.