LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Katie Williams, the Clark County School Board of Trustees member under investigation over concerns about her Nevada residency, has resigned.
A source close to Williams confirmed the news to Channel 13 senior reporter Jaewon Jung on Wednesday afternoon.
The source said Williams does not believe she did anything wrong but because she is soon getting married and her term ends in December, she is choosing to leave.
CCSD also confirming the resignation telling Channel 13:
"The Clark County School District Board of School Trustees received Trustee Williams' signed resignation letter effective September 11, 2024. The Board thanks Trustee Williams for her service to our students and their families and wishes her well in her future endeavors."
Williams commented about her resignation on X.
Persecution often comes because the righteous cannot be beat fairly.
— Katie J. Williams (@realkatiejow) September 11, 2024
They believe this to be a good thing. But I only feel sorry for the children of Clark County School District that will now be left with a board of chaos that will not remain focused on kids. #CCSD
Late Wednesday night, Williams released her official statement:
“For the last several weeks, I have been the target of a political investigation by the Clark County District Attorney and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department that relied upon false allegations made primarily by Chris Giunchigliani and Linda Cavazos that I am no longer a resident of District B.
“The reality is that as a working mother and Guardsman, I do travel a lot for work – as do many of my colleagues on the board, such as Lisa Gúzman, who has been said to maintain a residence in Arizona – but I have continued to perform my duties on the board regardless.
“Just under four years ago, I was sent to represent the people of District B with an overwhelming mandate: to stand for conservative values, to be a strong voice for the students, parents, teachers, and voters, and to work to ensure our students receive a world class education. Unfortunately, my fellow Board members do not share those values, and on so many occasions, they have refused to come to the table to compromise.
“Instead of effective governance in the name of our students, they have charted a course toward dysfunction, politicization, and borderline corruption in carrying out the will of un-elected special interests.
“The un-elected and radical liberal factions on the board and externally have done their best to neutralize my voice at every turn. When that didn’t work, they resorted to chaos through fabricated allegations, calling in favors to open a corrupt inquiry that has threatened a working mother, Citizen Soldier, and public servant, with criminal charges.
“LVMPD claimed to be pursuing criminal action on grounds of ‘Wrongful exercise of official power’ and theft, neither of which would hold up in a courtroom, due to the simple fact that they are predicated on absolutely false allegations.
“If I were to fight, justice would unequivocally prevail in my direction; but the personal cost to me, my family, and the citizens of Clark County would be great. With the prospect of possible arrest and tens of thousands of dollars in legal battles on the horizon, the defense of a position that pays $750 per month just isn’t what I need as a single working mother. It is for that reason that I have chosen to resign.
“This is by no means an end to my service to community, state, and nation; I will always stand for what I know is right, and you haven’t seen the last of me.”
The news comes hours after Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson filed a petition asking a court to force Williams to vacate her seat.
The District Attorney's office had been investigating allegations that Williams, who represents District B, no longer lives in the district she represents on the school board. On Wednesday morning, the DA's office announced its investigation had produced enough evidence to seek a court order declaring Williams no longer lives in her district.
"After a thorough and exhaustive investigation by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson concluded that Trustee Williams is no longer a resident of District B and therefore seeks a court order declaring that Trustee Williams is no longer a resident," the office stated in a prepared release.
Wolfson told Channel 13 police obtained an abundance of evidence to prove her legal residence is in Nebraska.
"We feel very strongly she's moved there, has established employment there and has a child there," said Wolfson. "Under the law and under the criteria that were to look to, we believe she no longer resides in her district."
According to Nevada Secretary of State Filings, Williams' last known residence in the Las Vegas valley is in the 4500 block of Solitude Falls Ave in North Las Vegas.
On Wednesday, Channel 13 spoke to neighbors in the area who said they have not seen Williams in their community.
Channel 13 reached out to Katie Williams but she did not respond. Her attorney said there is no comment at this time.
The petition filed Wednesday outlines allegations against Williams:
Petition to Declare Vacant the Office of District B Trustee of the Clark County Board of School Trustees (2... by aroberts.news on Scribd
District B encompasses areas of North Las Vegas, northwestern Las Vegas, Mt. Charleston and Indian Springs. Williams was elected in 2020 to represent the district on the Board of School Trustees.
In response to Wolfson's petition, the Board of Trustees sent Channel 13 this statement:
The Clark County School District Board of School Trustees is aware of the District Attorney’s petition to declare District B vacant due to Trustee Williams’ alleged residency. Unless the seat is declared vacant by a court of law or resignation, the elected representative remains as trustee. Resignation or removal from office does not affect any prior votes or actions taken by the Board.
Should a vacancy occur, Governance Policy-19 addresses vacancies and the process the Board follows for a replacement.
Channel 13 previously obtained a letter Wolfson sent to Williams in which he informed her of the investigation and asked her to relinquish her office no later than Sept. 9, 2024.
In the letter, Wolfson alleged that not only does Williams no longer live in her district; she no longer lives in the State of Nevada. We got more details in the petition Wolfson filed, in which he states Williams is now a resident of Nebraska.
Williams' term in office expires at the end of this year but, if removed from the board, the remaining board members would have to choose someone to complete her term.
What happens next? Jhovani Carrillo explains what happens when a seat on the school board is vacant:
