Round Rock City Councilmember Joe Clifford announced at Thursday’s Council meeting he is resigning his Place 3 seat, effective immediately, because he is moving to Houston to be close to family.

“It is with deep regret that I’m leaving,” Clifford said. “I will not talk about all the things the council has accomplished while I’ve been here. I just hope that at some point in the future that someone will say that he was steady, and the train never jumped the track and the ship never ran aground. Round Rock is a good place to live and a good place to raise a family, and I know that because I’ve done that.”

He has lived in Round Rock since 1998, and owned Reid’s Dry Cleaners and Laundry. He and his wife, Claudia, have one grown daughter, Emily.

Clifford has served on the City Council for nearly a decade. He was elected in a special election on Dec. 18, 2004, to fill a vacancy. He was re-elected in 2006, 2009 and 2012. He served as Mayor Pro-Tem from 2007-2010.

Said Mayor Alan McGraw: “Joe, your handprints will be on this community for years and years to come. I’m going to miss you, and Round Rock is going to miss your leadership on the City Council. I’ll wrap it up by saying this: Well done, public servant. Well done.”

Clifford serves on the board of the CHASCO Family YMCA and Round Rock Circle of Friends, and is a former board member of the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce and Hope Alliance.

A special election will be held Jan. 24 to fill the balance of Clifford’s Place 3 term. Full-term elections for Place 3 and Place 5 will be held in May 2015.