The Colleyville City Council has appointed a new member to fill a vacancy after George Bond resigned following an arrest on suspicion of drink-driving.
Planning and Zoning Commission member Mark Alphonso will serve in the No. 2 seat until the May 2025 election.
Alphonso said in an interview that when he heard of Bond’s resignation, he sent emails to Mayor Bobby Lindamood and council members telling them he was interested in serving, leading to his appointment on Tuesday.
“I have always been interested in the city council. I’m here for the long haul. My children are still young,” he said.
Alphonso, 51, owns several wedding venues, including Montclair in Colleyville and Century Hall in downtown Fort Worth.
When asked about his priorities as a council member, Alphonso said he wants to talk to people who expressed concerns about parks and green space before the May 4 election.
“We love our trees and open spaces, but there is certainly a balance with the new growth. People definitely want to live in Colleyville,” Alphonso said.
Mayor pro tem Brandi Elder, who made the motion to appoint Alphonso, said the council looked at candidates who have knowledge of the community and who could work with others.
Elder said she often attends ribbon cuttings for the Colleyville Chamber of Commerce and sees Alphonso present at the events not because he has to be there.
Alphonso will also become president of the Colleyville Rotary Club in 2025 and is president of the Dads Club at Colleyville Middle School.
He graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Before the council voted to appoint Alphonso, some residents who attended the meeting wondered why they weren’t given a chance to voice their opinions on potential candidates.
Robert Eagan said he respects Bond and the challenges he faces.
“I think it’s important for the council to be made up of members who have different opinions and challenge this council and do what’s right for the city of Colleyville, rather than having a friend on the board,” Egan said.
Bond resigned after his May 23 arrest on suspicion of drunken driving, his second in three months.
According to Colleyville police, Bond was stopped by officers around 3:15 a.m. in the 1100 block of Cheek Sparger Road for failing to stop at a designated point.
