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COLUMBIA -- A big shift comes to the Columbia City Council Tuesday.

City Councilman E.W. Cromartie announced he is resigning from the council.

Just Monday, he agreed to plead guilty to federal tax evasion charges.

Late Tuesday afternoon, he publicly announced his resignation, then stepped out to fill out the paperwork to make his resignation official.  He stated that it would be his last event as councilman.

"I thoroughly enjoyed representing the people of district II for the past 27 years," Cromartie said.  "I think we've been able to do a lot of things for community and it's been my pleasure, my privilege and my honor to serve."

In a letter to Mayor Bob Coble, Cromarty says he is genuinely sorry for his mistakes in judgment.

According to the State Election Commission, the longest serving city councilman in the state's vacancy will be filled in the April 6 city elections.

The issue will also be discussed at Wednesday's council meeting.

Meanwhile, no date has been set for Cromartie to plead to charges of failing to pay more than $25,000 in federal income taxes in 2004.

The former councilman's law license was also suspended by the state Supreme Court Tuesday.  In a plea agreement reached last week, he agreed to give up his law practice.