Irving, Texas. January 23, 2013 –

Irving City Council member Roy Santoscoy announced early Friday that he would retire from the council to spend more time with his children.

"I have the desire to do this again … but I’m out of the race for May," the 46-year-old pawnshop owner said to applause from an audience that had spent all Thursday night arguing over a new alcohol law.

Santoscoy won his Place 2 seat in 2010 after campaigning to build consensus in a politically divisive city. Some found it ironic that the Hispanic businessman won an at-large seat, rather than the seat in a single-member district created that year to give minorities more representation. He joins Place 1 holder Michael Gallaway in deciding not to run again this year. A third council member up for re-election, Gerald Farris, has not announced whether he will run.