WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. – A replacement alderman will be chosen at the next Walnut Ridge City Council meeting after Ward 3 Councilman Daniel Abbott passed away in November.
Mayor Charles Snapp sent out a notice Friday to media, stating there had been a few inquiries into the position appointment, scheduled for December 19.
Sources close to the Abbott family indicated to NEA Report the widow of the late alderman, Angie Abbott, is considering making a bid for the position at the meeting.
“After discussions with the City Attorney, Nancy Hall, and reviewing the statutes and applicable constitutional amendments, here’s what we are asking interested parties to do,” Snapp wrote in a release, before highlighting the requirements the city is asking.
- Obtain paperwork from the Lawrence County Clerk showing you are a registered voter in Ward three of Walnut Ridge and meet the voter registration requirements.
- Notify City Hall to add your name to the agenda to speak
- No later than December 12 provide a printed copy (at City Hall) of a resume that will be digitally transmitted to all members of the City Council. This will allow members to review the qualifications of all interested parties, in advance of the meeting.
- Interested parties should attend the City Council meeting on Monday, December 19, 2016 at the Police Complex meeting room. The meeting will start at 6 p.m. When the new business item for the Ward 3 appointment comes up on the agenda, each person will be given two minutes to present themselves to the council for consideration.
- Seated Alderman can present a motion at any point during the process and seated alderman have the right to nominate a party that has not submitted the information to City Hall. However, proof of Ward 3 voting requirements is required by law.
- During the December 19 meeting, interested parties will be subject to questions from members of the council.
Snapp also outlined the procedure for selecting a new alderman in an earlier email.
- A quorum must be present at the regular December council meeting, on the 19th.
- A majority of the council must vote for a replacement.
- The replacement must be a registered voter in the new Ward 3, as the replacement will also serve for the full two year term Alderman Abbott had recently been elected for, that starts January 1, 2017. I would recommend those being considered bring proof of registration that would allow them to serve in the position, similar to qualifications to run.
- Arkansas rules and regulations do not call for a special election in the case of an unfulfilled term for an alderman of a city of the first class, with a population under 20,000.
- The Alderman will be appointed for the remainder of the December 2016 term, but will service through December 31, 2018.
- The appointed person will be able to run for the position in 2018 general election.
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