Vacancy

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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8/5/24