Hoschton Mayor Erma A. Denney resigned her post, effective Oct. 31, due to a significant change in a legal agreement involving her private employment.

Mayor since December 2009, Denney notified council colleagues and staff of the matter.

“It is with profound regret that I must make this change; as this affects my very livelihood, a career of 23 years, I find I have no choice,” said Denney. “A recently executed vendor contract with my company prohibits employees from holding elected office.”

Denney is an account executive with an information technologies solution provider headquartered in Roswell.

Reflecting on her term as mayor, Denney said, “foremost, I am proud of the restructuring and advancements of the city’s fiscal health as it was and is a priority for managing public funds and for building trust among our citizens.

Also, it’s been an honor to be an advocate and public voice for charities and philanthropic ventures such as the Braselton Rotary Club, Operation One Voice, Jackson County Brevet and Relay for Life.

“I will forever treasure the sense of community pride here as well as the fostering of positive relations with Jackson County Commission, Sheriff’s Department, the Water & Sewerage Authority and the neighboring Town of Braselton,” Denney added.

The Hoschton city charter calls for the mayor pro tem to act as mayor in the event of the absence or disability of the mayor. The city’s attorney, Thomas Mitchell, indicated a special election to fill the mayor’s unexpired term will take place in March per the requirements of the city’s charter and state law.