Thomaston Times – Election for District 4 Council seat is Sept 17

The Thomaston City Council approved a resolution at their Monday night meeting calling for a special election to be held Tuesday, September 17, 2013, to filling the unexpired term of the late Wallace Rhodes. Coach Rhodes, who died June 5, 2013, was the council representative for District 4.

City Attorney Joel Bentley said before the council meeting that the city charter requires that if there is more than six months left in the term of office, a special election must be called to fill the vacancy. Rhodes had seven months left in his term of office, which ends December 31, 2013.

Section 8 of the city charter provides for the calling of a special election within 60 days from the time the vacancy occurs. September 17, 2013 falls outside of that 60-day period, but the Georgia Election Code provides that a special election to fill a vacancy in odd numbered years shall be held on certain dates, including the third Tuesday of September, which is Sept. 17. Georgia Election Code supersedes the city charter, which allows the city to hold the election outside of the 60-day period.

The winner of the special election shall hold the post of District 4 Council member from the first date he or she is sworn in after the special election until December 31, 2013, when the term ends. A regular city election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2013, to fill the District 4 post for the regular four-year term beginning January 1, 2014.

via Thomaston Times – Election for District 4 Council seat is Sept 17.