SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio city councilwoman who made national headlines recently after a secret recording of a staff meeting was leaked in which she was heard calling gays “disgusting,” resigned Monday and announced her intent to run for the Texas state Senate.
Elisa Chan, who said she is proud of her work on the city council, announced her resignation in a letter to Mayor Julian Castro and other council members, indicating she will step down on October 18.
“I have done my best to represent the conservative values of these fine people,” she wrote. “The people of this district take an active role in deciding policy, giving their input, volunteering their time and listening to the views of their neighbors.”
She said she will challenge Republican incumbent Donna Campbell for the Senate seat representing Texas’ district 25.
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Chan drew national attention in August after secret recordings were leaked to the San Antonio Express News in which she called homosexuality “so disgusting” and “against nature.”
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Chan had also faced an ethics complaint filed by a city resident accusing her of violating city policies by using city staff, time and property for a “partisan political purpose,” as a result of the public release of the recording of the meeting. The complaint was dismissed late last month.
The LGBT-inclusive non-ordinance passed on Sept. 5 without Chan’s support.
