After fewer than five months at her post, Kathi Williams, RTD representative for the Thornton area, notified the Adams County Board of Commissioners she will resign Aug. 1.

The board appointed Williams Dec. 20, 2011, to fill the District K seat left vacant by Kenneth Riley. Riley was elected in 2010, but resigned after being investigated by the Adams County District Attorney’s Office for allegedly stealing union money to help cover campaign costs. The DA’s office in February announced it wasn’t pursuing charges because it lacked evidence.

Williams said that prior to applying for the RTD board, she had applied to be the CEO of the Colorado Optometric Association, but didn’t think her chances were good that she would get it. Despite her doubts, she was hired for the position.

“I did get the job, but because the job entails working with state and federal legislators, the Optometric Board of Trustees felt it could be detrimental to their organization if I were to continue my role as an RTD director,” the Brighton resident said.

She said she told the commissioners about her resignation on April 23. If Williams had not resigned, she would have had to run in November to retain her seat since she was appointed, she said.

Williams is a former state representative, serving from 1984 to 1990, and served as an RTD director in the early 1980s.