A news release from Councilman Bill Spelman's office announced he has a pancreatic tumor and will be off the dais for at least the rest of August. The tumor is scheduled to be removed Aug. 10 after being discovered last week.

"Just removing the tumor may not be enough to solve the problem," Spelman said in the release. "We won't know what kind of follow-up attention I'll need until after surgery. But the doctors have assured me I can be in the classroom on the first day of the fall semester, and I expect to get back on the council dais even sooner than that."

Spelman's colleagues have said they are saddened by the news. Councilman Mike Martinez wished him well on Twitter, and Mayor Lee Leffingwell released a statement to show his support as well.

"Bill is a good friend and colleague. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as he works through this difficult process," Leffingwell said in the release. "All of us at City Hall will be working closely with Bill to make sure he and his staff have all the support they need during this time. I look forward to having him back on the dais as soon as he is able."

Spelman teaches applied math and statistics, urban policy, and public management at The University of Texas' LBJ School of Public Affairs in addition to his duties as a councilman. He was first elected to the council in 1997 and served until 2000. He came back to the council in 2009 and was re-elected to a second term in May.