Mayor Butch Berry announced Monday that council must declare a vacancy because of the resignation of David Mitchell, and aldermen voted to declare that vacancy. City Attorney Tim Weaver said council could discuss a replacement “at the appropriate time,” but then cautioned them that state law says “a successor shall be chosen,” so they cannot simply wait until the November elections.
Alderman Mickey Schneider was of the mind all they needed to do was declare a vacancy and she was in no hurry to select a replacement. She was particularly against selecting someone who would be running for that seat because she insisted that chosen one would have an unfair advantage over other candidates.
Berry said voters needed to make their interest known to an alderman or city hall. Aldermen will discuss what to do next at the August 13 meeting.
Council voted for Terry McClung to replace Mitchell as Mayor Pro Tem and Bob Thomas as the representative on the City Advertising and Promotion Commission.