Updated Jan. 12 at 9:47 a.m.: This story has been updated to include information from the city attorney.
Lily Bao, Place 7 Plano City Council member, announced her intention to run for mayor in 2021 at a Jan. 11 city council meeting.
Bao was elected to City Council in 2019 with a term set to finish in 2023. Bao's announcement at the council meeting triggered her resignation from the seat, she said. She will continue her duties until a successor takes her place, she said.
Place 7 will be placed on the May 1 ballot as a special election, according to City Secretary Lisa Henderson. The special election for Place 7 will be called at a Feb. 8 City Council meeting. Candidate packets will be available for the unexpired term beginning Feb. 9, Henderson said.
"I look forward to serving with you after May 1 as your new mayor," Bao said.
Bao, a real estate agent, previously challenged Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere in his re-election bid in 2017.
LaRosiliere will end his tenure as mayor in 2021. Due to term limits, he is ineligible to run again.
Bao is not an official candidate until she files an application to run for office. The filing window begins Jan. 13 and runs until Feb. 12. An election for the mayor seat, Place 6, is scheduled for May 1, according to the city of Plano’s website.
