Because several have asked, this is the information
on filling a vacancy on the Loudon City Council.
With the sudden and tragic death of Loudon City
councilman, James "Bear" Webb, the council is faced with possibly having
to fill that vacancy even though the next city election is just few
months away.
According to the city charter, the council is to fill
the vacancy within 20 days of the occurrence of a vacancy, unless there
is a city election within 90 days of the vacancy occurring. In this
case, the next city election would be 97 days since Webb's passing.
However, early voting would begin well within the 90 day time frame.
Ultimately, the council will have to make the decision
on how to move forward.
Below is the city charter on vacancies.
Loudon City Charter
SECTION 6. Vacancies. Any vacancy
in the Council shall be filled by appointment
made by the remaining members thereof, and the
Councilman so appointed shall serve for the
remainder of the unexpired term. Provided,
however, that only one (1) vacancy shall be
filled by appointment made by the Council; and,
in the event of any additional vacancy after the
first, the Council shall forthwith, by
Resolution, call upon the Election Commissioners
for Loudon County to call a special election for
the purpose of filling any such additional
vacancy. The Election Commissioners for Loudon
County, when thus called upon by the Council,
shall immediately call such special election and
appoint the necessary officers therefor, and
said special election shall be held in the same
manner as provided in this Charter for general
City elections. The Councilman elected at such
special election so held shall hold office for
the remainder of the unexpired term; provided,
however, that the foregoing provision with
reference to filling any additional vacancy
after the first by a special election shall not
apply to any additional vacancy in the Council
occurring less than ninety (90) days prior to
any general City Election; and in the latter
event, such additional vacancy occurring less
than ninety (90) days prior to the next general
City Election shall be filled by appointment
made by the remaining members of the Council,
and the Councilman so appointed shall serve
until his successor elected at the next general
election is qualified.
In the event of the occurrence of
any vacancy in the Council which may, under the
provisions of this Section, be filled by
appointment by the remaining Councilmen, and
such remaining Councilmen shall fail or neglect
to fill such vacancy within 20 days of its
occurrence, it shall be the duty of the Election
Commissioners of Loudon County, upon
certification of such facts to them by any
Councilman, to call and cause to be held, as
hereinabove provided, a special election for the
purpose of filling such vacancy, provided such
certification be made to the Election
Commissioners for Loudon County within
sufficient time to permit the holding and
completion of such special election at least 90
days prior to the next general City election.
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