City of Billings Mayor resigns after facing accusations of lying about her residency

BILLINGS, Mo. -- Just months after becoming the Mayor of Billings, Melissa Venable resigned from her position on Monday after questions arose regarding her residency.

In a press release from Sumners-Schwartz Law, Venable says she decided to resign in the best interest of her family, herself and the City of Billings, saying she has been fearing for her safety, her family's safety and her reputation in Billings.

"Over the past eight months, I have worked tirelessly to address the needs of our
community, facing both opportunities and challenges head-on," Venable said. "This decision was made following careful consideration of the demands of this role and my ability to continue to effectively serve in the future."

Venable faces allegations of lying about her residency before the April 2024 election, including accusations that she lied in a declaration of candidacy affidavit she signed in December 2023 stating she fulfilled all requirements for the candidacy.

Court documents state that an investigation into the matter found multiple witnesses who said to investigators that Venable actually lived in Marionville, as well as several records that listed Venable's address in Lawrence County. Venable was charged with a class I election offense for making a false statement of candidacy in October 2024.

"While this chapter is coming to an end, my commitment to the people of Billings remains steadfast," said Venable.

Venable has denied the accusations and stated to investigators that she has lived in Billings for 20 years, according to online court records.