La Marque mayor arrested on indecent exposure charge, residents call for resignation

LA MARQUE, Texas - La Marque Mayor Keith Bell is facing a misdemeanor indecent exposure charge after being arrested Friday at a business park in Angleton. [Click2Houston]

LA MARQUE — A standing-room-only city council meeting Monday night turned into a forum for residents demanding accountability after the mayor's arrest on indecent exposure charges.

Mayor Keith Bell was taken into custody Friday following an incident at an office building in neighboring Angleton, where authorities allege he exposed himself. The misdemeanor charge brought immediate fallout in the Gateway to the Gulf community, a municipality of approximately 20,000 residents spanning roughly 14 miles. Bell posted bond the following day in the amount of $75,000, according to official records.

The Monday night gathering drew dozens of community members eager to voice their positions on Bell's future. Several residents made passionate pleas for his departure from office, with one attendee telling the mayor directly that he had "proven to be disgraceful, incompetent." Vickie McChristian, a lifelong La Marque resident, argued that elected leaders must model lawful behavior for their constituents. "If we cannot look up to the mayor following the rules, well he set the example to the public. I feel like he should resign," McChristian said. Another resident experiencing homelessness contended that Bell should face the same legal consequences as ordinary citizens would. "He should be arrested and in jail, just like everybody else. He is no different," the resident stated.

However, sentiment among residents proved divided. Some attendees urged restraint, advocating for the judicial system to complete its course before any action is taken against the mayor. "I do not support his resignation. I believe he should remain in office and allow the legal process to run its course," one supporter said.

The city's official response characterized the arrest as an unexpected development that compounded existing hardships facing the community. "To the residents of La Marque, we recognize that this is a shocking and disheartening development during a period that has already brought significant uncertainty and challenges to our community," officials stated in a written statement.

La Marque residents expressed frustration over their limited power to remove an elected official. Under city charter provisions, the municipality cannot unilaterally reprimand or oust a sitting mayor without specific charter authorization. Bell retains the option to voluntarily step down, but absent that choice or charter-authorized removal proceedings, he may remain in office during legal proceedings. "We chose him, why can't we get rid of him?" one resident asked. Bell has declined to publicly comment on either the allegations or his arrest.