Earle set to declare mayoral vacancy

Earle set to declare mayoral vacancy

Jones out once vote totals certified

news@theeveningtimes.com

Earle City Council will hold a special meeting next week to officially declare a vacancy in the mayor’s office.

The council will meet Tuesday, Nov. 22, the day after the county election commission is expected to certify the election results, and will also pass a resolution requesting a new election for mayor be held.

Mayor Carolyn Jones was recalled and removed from office in the general election by a vote of 522 to 239 after a stormy two years in office marked by constant controversy and poor relations with the city council.

The city will have to wait until the results are officially certified.

“All they (county election commission) want from us is an ordinance or resolution requesting that the election commission conduct a special election to elect a mayor for the City of Earle,” said City Attorney Davis Loftin. “They will set the election date, the date for filing petitions, and date for setting ballot positions.”

Election Commissioner Frank Barton told the city council that the board will meet on Nov. 21 to certify the election.

“We plan on certifying the election Monday night when we give provisional voters who we decided not to count their ballots a chance to come and present their case,” Barton said.

“We plan on certifying it immediately after that.”

Barton said he doesn’t foresee anything that will change the outcome of any ballot issue or race.

“I see no issues with us certifying,” Barton said.

Councilman Bobby Luckett, Sr. asked whether there was any time limit as to when they had to hold an election.

“After you have certified the open seat, how long do we have to declare it vacant?” Luckett asked.

Barton said he isn’t certain how long they have to wait until they can schedule a new election, but believes the law mandates that the earliest one can be held is 70 days.

“I think there is a minimum time from when we receive it,” Barton said.

Loftin said he called the Arkansas Municipal League and is unaware of any time requirement.

“I haven’t found 70 days anywhere,” Loftin said. “The only thing they came up with was in a general election you have to file between not more than 105 days and not more than 80 days before the election.

But there is nothing that says that has to be done in a special election. So I don’t know if there is a specific time you have to give people to file their petitions or not.”

“It will be new for y’all,” Barton added. “But I am confident it will be new for us as far as a special election for this. But I know the interest is to get it done as quickly as possible.”

By Mark Randall