San Marcos City Councilwoman Martha Tatum has missed five meetings since Aug. 26 because of a gas spill at a service station. She is refusing to attend the meetings until the city investigates the accident.
Tatum's husband, Kyev, attended one of the meetings and said his wife won't return until she gets some answers. They're upset that no one from Sac-N-Pac called 911.
Tatum said on Aug. 26, his wife and son were getting gas at a Sac-N-Pac and that's when his wife was showered with gasoline. Pictures taken by Mr. Tatum show the hose disconnected from the pump.
The Tatums say she's suffered physically from the incident.
"Realistically, I almost lost two people that I care about more than anybody else in the world. And to this date, the majority of people on the council and many others within the community are more interested in my wife coming back to the council than they are about her emotional, physiological and physical condition," Tatum said.
Tatum is also upset because the pumps weren't shut off, putting others at risk. He wants the city to investigate.
"Mr. Tatum, rather than helping, has hampered our efforts in trying to investigate the matter. The information we have is not consistent with the information that he has and because he refuses to let us speak with his wife, Martha, all we can go on is what we've learned without being able to speak to her," said President and CEO of Sac-N-Pac Kevin Brumley.
O'Leary said city employees have also tried to reach Councilwoman Tatum.
"They want to talk to her to make sure she's OK and that she'll come in and be a part of the council," he said.
O'Leary said the council has also tried to contact Councilwoman Tatum about her attendance, but they can't reach her.
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Councilwoman avoids meetings
Martha Tatum has missed five San Marcos City Council meetings since her Aug. 26 accident.
 
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"The council's concerned. There's some big decisions that are going on in the community now and they want Mrs. Tatums' input," said City Manager Dan O'Leary.
If she does not return, the City Charter gives the Council the authority to expel any council member who misses more than three regular city council meetings in a row.
Tatum has missed three regular meetings and two special meetings.
