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Councilman May Resign After Suicide At Meeting

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The Associated Press

Published: October 7, 2007

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - A city councilman is considering resigning after a man pulled out a gun and shot himself in the head after the council declined to rezone his property.

Marc Harris, who voted against the rezoning, said the council made the right decision. But he has been bombarded with irate e-mail from citizens blaming the council for Ward's death. 'I can't bear the weight of this one,' he said. 'I can't pull anything out of me to make sitting on city council worth it to me.'

Ronald 'Bo' Ward had asked the council to rezone his house as commercial to increase the property's value. He said that would allow him to secure a loan to offset debt he incurred when he expanded his barber shop.

When the council voted 7-5 against the proposal Thursday, Ward took out a handgun and shot himself in the head.

Harris did not attend a group counseling session for city officials Friday. Many others did. Mayor Johnny Piper said those attending were saddened by what happened.

'How you voted was not right or wrong,' he told the council members. 'You voted your conscience.'

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