LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — Clark County School District Trustee Katie Williams resigned Wednesday hours after the Clark County District Attorney’s Office moved to remove her.
The office filed a petition Wednesday morning to remove Williams, who is accused of no longer living in the school district or the state, and vacate her seat on the board.
“I think an elected official owes an obligation to perform the functions of their office,” Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson told 8 News Now. “It’s not just being at meetings, it’s not just casting votes, it’s being physically present and available to constituents. Having office hours. Being accessible.”
Last week, Wolfson told Williams she had until Monday to either vacate her seat or he’ll initiate proceedings to remove her from office. On Monday, the District Attorney’s office told 8 News Now it was giving Williams more time to respond, but did not say how much additional time was given.
Williams is accused of no longer living in the school district or the state. Back in March, 8 News Now first reported that Williams failed to attend more than a dozen meetings in person since January 2023, and would instead opt to call in or not attend.
“Everyone noticed that she was not there. It was not just me who sat next to her who noticed that she was not present, but the entire community noticed that she was not present,” Dane Watson, a former Clark County School District trustee told 8 News Now .
Nevada state law requires that each trustee of a school district must reside in the election district which the trustee represents and be elected by the voters of that election district, according to the petition.
Williams’ social media posts have indicated she lives in Nebraska. When asked about this in May, Williams told 8 News Now she was working remotely for a job that required her to travel between Utah, California, and Nebraska. Wolfson said a Metro investigation led to his office taking action.
Williams was first elected as a trustee in 2020 and claimed she was a resident of District B, which covers schools in the far northwest valley and rural areas of Clark County. She was sworn in as the CCSD Trustee for District B in January 2021.
According to the petition filed on Sept. 11, a person may have more than one residence, but can have only one legal domicile, which requires actually living in a place and the intention to remain there as a permanent residence.
The document claimed that Williams has been living in Nebraska and intends to remain there. “Her actions show she intended to abandon her residence in Nevada,” the petition stated.
The petition asks for the court to hold a hearing to review evidence of whether Williams ceased to be a resident of Nevada and District B and to remove Trustee Williams if the court finds she has.
The Board of Trustees issued a statement Wednesday afternoon, reading:
“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.”
The Clark County Education Association is calling for an investigation into trustees on when they knew Katie Williams wasn’t a resident here.
“The focus should shift onto [Board President Evelyn] Garcia Morales. I mean this is an issue that’s been in the public,” John Vellardita, executive director of CCEA, said. “This has been an issue that’s been brought before the trustees, whether it’s been at a meeting or individually. And Garcia Morales has essentially, in our opinion, brushed this under the rug.”
Vellardita said that trustees should postpone hiring a new superintendent for now.
“If the media, and in particular reporters like yourself, did not pursue this issue. We would have had a trustee that essentially should’ve been removed a long time ago,” Vellardita said.
8 News Now reached out to involved parties for comment, which will be added to this article when they are received.
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