GREENVILLE — A state district judge Friday ordered a member of the West Tawakoni City Council removed from her position, after she was found to have engaged in official misconduct.

Carol Solomon is also on the Nov. 6 ballot, and is unopposed in seeking re-election to her place on the council. However, Hunt County Elections Administrator Mina Cook said it is too late to remove Solomon’s name, with early voting for the election beginning Monday.

“We already have sent out more than 1,000 mail-in ballots,” Cook said.

A jury in the 196th District Court Thursday found Solomon guilty of one count of official misconduct.

The panel found from a preponderance of the evidence that Solomon as a public servant accepted or agreed to accept a benefit from a person she knew to be subject to her regulation, inspection or investigation.

The jury did not find that Solomon intentionally misused government property that came into her possession by virtue of her office or employment.

West Tawakoni Mayor Pete Yoho filed suit in October 2010 against Solomon, seeking her removal from the council due to allegations of misconduct.

Judge Steve Tittle instructed Hunt County District Attorney Noble D. Walker Jr., who represented Yoho on behalf of the State of Texas, to draw up a judgment.

Friday, Tittle signed off on the judgment, which read, “The Court finds that it is in the public interest to suspend the removed Officer pending appeal.”

Tittle also assessed an $8,000 bond for costs in the event an appeal is sought. No appeal had been filed with Tittle’s office as of Friday afternoon.

The action directly affects the ballot for the West Tawakoni City Council in the upcoming election.

With the judge’s ruling Friday, Solomon will be unable under state law to hold the same office for two years.

Yoho and Laura Beckett are in the race for Place 2 on the West Tawakoni City Council. Solomon is unopposed in seeking the Place 4 spot. Jack Schultz and Calvin Travers are competing for the post of Mayor.

Cook said there is no way to change the ballots at this late date.

“It will have to be dealt with after the election,” Cook said, adding that any decision concerning the outcome of the voting will be up to the West Tawakoni City Council, as Cook’s office is under contract only to conduct the election.

“We will do whatever they tell us as to how to proceed,” Cook said. “We have no jurisdiction.”

Yoho’s original suit claimed Solomon and her husband Larry used city employees and equipment to remove a tree stump from their property, replace a drain culvert and grade the driveway to their residence in late May or early June 2010, without compensating the city.

Solomon had denied the allegations.