DOWNEY – Downey Unified School District board member William "Willie" Gutierrez announced his resignation Tuesday, saying he was moving out of the area. 

The resignation, effective May 10, creates a rare vacancy on the school board, where members have typically served decades overseeing Downey’s 21 public schools. 

Following Gutierrez’s resignation announcement, the school board unanimously called for a special November election to fill the open seat. The winning candidate will finish the remainder of Gutierrez’s term, which is set to expire in 2020.

Gutierrez represents District 3, northeast Downey. The boundaries are roughly east of Lakewood Boulevard and north of Hall Road.

School board members could have appointed a member of the public to replace Gutierrez, but opted for the special election, citing reasonable costs and a desire to let voters choose their representative. 

“Now with elections by district, and the ability to combine with a statewide general election which we know is going to happen, we got an estimate from the county of a cost of about $25,000 to hold it for that one area, Area 3,” said board member Donald LaPlante. “So to me, considering the semi-reasonable cost we got from the county, I would support letting democracy take its course and let the citizens choose their representative.’ 

Board member D. Mark Morris agreed. 

“It is less expensive now than it was back in my day and it’s more equitable and also something that voters in that trustee area would be able to chime in on,” Morris said. 

One resident has already expressed interest in the seat: Giggy Saab, a community volunteer, confirmed she will be a candidate on the November ballot.

She is past president of Soroptimist International of Downey and sits on local non-profit boards, including Downey Federal Credit Union and the Downey YMCA. Her husband is Alex Saab, a Downey city council member. 

In an interview Wednesday, Gutierrez, 59, said he was “at peace” with his resignation from the school board. His new home is located in Long Beach.

“We looked for a home in Downey – in my trustee area – but we just didn’t find anything,” said Gutierrez. “When we found the house in Long Beach, because we had been looking for a couple of years, I felt it was the right thing to do. I work in Newport Beach, so it saves me an hour each day.

“The Downey school district is in a good place, and I felt at peace with my decision to resign.” 

Gutierrez was elected to the school board in 2000. His wife, Carol, teaches second grade at Gallatin Elementary. 

A farewell party is planned for May 7 from 3-5 p.m. at Pace Elementary.