Some Question Richardson's Mayor Decision To Quit, Take New Job

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RICHARDSON (CBS 11 NEWS) - Is funny business behind the Richardson mayor's decision to suddenly quit and go into private business?

Some residents think so, after the mayor has taken a job with a developer she helped approve a controversial project for months ago.

That land deal that put Richardson Mayor Laura Maczka at odds with residents like Christopher Ulrich.

"We had voted for her and trusted her to do the right thing for the neighborhood, we have become very disappointed." says Christopher Ulrich. The mayor supported the Palisades development in 2013, that proposed up to a thousand apartments, town homes and businesses over the opposition of nearby residents.

"A mixed-use development like we've seen at city line is exactly what we need in that track of land," says Maczka.

But Thursday, the mayor announced she would leave office and has taken a marketing job with JP Realty Partners which is behind the Palisades project.

"I realized I needed a full-time job," says the mayor.

Maczka defends that decision to critics who question whether she had a conflict of interest at the time of the controversial vote.

"I'd like to see timelines. I like to see how things lined up, to see if there was a conflict of interest because where things are it looks like there was one," says Ulrich.

Ulrich and others still hope to undo the deal and demand an investigation.

But supporters of the mayor believe her and are sorry to see her go.

"I think she's very pro-business type of a person and very proud of the city, and I think she's represented the city well at this time," says John Kelly.

The mayor denies any conflict of interest and points out that the vote in favor or Palisades was 5-2, so it would have passed without her support.

She says she will stay in office until a new mayor is sworn in.

That mayor will likely be chosen by the city council unless someone launches a successful write in campaign.

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