Home Local News 2 more apply for Hamlet City Council vacancy

2 more apply for Hamlet City Council vacancy

HAMLET — Two more people have expressed interest in filling an empty City Council seat, bringing the total number of candidates to five, and one will be chosen Tuesday.

Former council member Joey Jernigan and recreational basketball coach Maurice Stuart have both sent letters to Mayor Bill Bayless and City Manager Jonathan Blanton saying they’d like to be considered for the seat left empty following David Lindsey’s resignation earlier this month.

Jernigan served on the council for eight years and, after deciding not to move away, said he would like to once again be involved with the city.

Stuart, a Hamlet native who moved back in 2014, said, “I am now ready to give back to Hamlet what it gave to me.”

In addition to his management background, Stuart is a member of the Human Relations Council and a volunteer with the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Teen Court.

The other three candidates include former Mayor Jeff Smart, former Police Chief Terry Moore and Seaboard Festival Board Member Diane Mabe, who sent their applications shortly after Lindsey’s resignation.

Advertisements

Lindsey cited “personal reasons” in his one-sentence email to Bayless prior to the council’s February meeting.

The council could fill the position one of two ways, according to a 2013 post from Bob Joyce on the UNC School of Government’s Coates’ Canons blog: One of the council members could move to appoint someone to the position and the council would vote; or the council could elect the fill-in by ballot.

Both methods are held in an open meeting.

Whomever is appointed will serve out the rest of Lindsey’s term and would have to run — and win — in November’s election to remain on the board, Elections Director Connie Kelly confirmed last week.

The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to choose its new member.

 



Previous articleLongtime school social worker joins RichmondCC Board of Trustees
Next articleRichmond County flu numbers down from last year