Leyman resigns from Mansfield City Council

By Amanda Rogers

Mansfield Record

Mansfield City Council member Mike Leyman has resigned his Place 3 seat.

“I’m 75, and I’ve been over 10 years on the council,” Leyman said. “It’s a good opportunity to resign so they won’t have to call for a special election. I will serve until needed. I will resign at earliest possible date that the citizens will not have to pay for a special election.”

Leyman was elected to Place 6 on the council in 2007, but left in 2013 to seek a state office. He was elected to Place 3 in May 2018 and re-elected to a second three-year term in May 2021. His term has 17 months remaining.

“It is a younger person’s game,” he said “It’s an opportunity for a younger person to step forward.”

The city confirmed that they have received Leyman’s resignation letter, but said the council and staff are still reviewing the next steps for his replacement as required by city and state regulations.

Also up for election in May will be the Place 6 seat, currently held by Todd Tonore, and the Place 7 position, currently held by Larry Broseh. Filing for the two seats opens Jan. 18 and closes Feb. 17.

Leyman is a retired police officer who has served as Mansfield’s chief of police 1979-1986, and then worked with the Richardson Police Department for 16 years before retiring. He served as chief of police for the Mansfield ISD from 2005-2013. In his decade of serving on the city council, Leyman said the most difficult period was after the resignation of Clayton Chandler in 2020 after 36 years as city manager.

“When Clay left, filling the city manager position was a difficult process,” Leyman said. “Clay was a good city manager and good for Mansfield.”

Leyman said he is most proud of bringing the fireworks back to Mansfield.

“Coming up with the idea for the annual 4th of July fireworks, which has grown,” he said. “It started as a mini event and has grown into what it is today. What I really like is the little kids who get the bang out of it.”

Leyman, who has been a Mansfield resident since 1979, except for three years when he lived in Richardson, said he has no plans to leave Mansfield

“I just recently bought a duplex in Mansfield,” he said. “I’m not planning to go anywhere.”

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