Monday, June 13, 2016

What Next for Williams' Seat

A reader asks what happens now to Rebecca Williams' "old seat."

Williams won the June primary contest for the Citywide at-large seat, but still has to be elected in the November general election. She is running unopposed and will take office Jan. 1 if all goes as expected.

As for her current seat representing the Second & Third Wards at-large, she will have to vacate it on Dec. 31. The Democratic City Committee must come up with three names to present to the City Council, which will appoint one person to serve until the next general election.

The appointee would also take office on Jan. 1. In late March or early April, that person would have to file to run in the 2017 primary. The mayoral and Fourth Ward seats are also up in 2017, so they will also be on the primary ballot along with the Second & Third Ward at-large seat. The 2017 November ballot would have the primary winners as well as any independents who filed on primary day.

Winners in the 2017 general election will take office on Jan. 1, 2018. The mayoral and Fourth Ward winners will have four-year terms and the Second & Third Ward at-large winner will serve the balance of that term, which ends Dec. 31, 2018.

--Bernice

3 comments:

  1. Thank you Bernice, very comprehensive....but one more question. So technically two lame-duck council members - Gloria Taylor and Tracey Brown will have a vote on the appointee before they leave office? Couldn't that potentially wreak havoc on the committee's recommendations?

    David

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If that's what they choose to do, it's a possibility.

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    2. They shouldn't be able to take action until there is a vacancy. There won't be a vacancy until January 1st. Both will be off the Council at that point.

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