Cape council has 60 days to appoint someone to replace Summers

April is set to be a month of change for the Cape Girardeau City Council as it prepares to say farewell to some longtime members and welcome a few new ones.

Ward 1 Councilman John Voss and Ward 2 Councilman Meg Davis will be replaced after the election next week because Voss reached his term limit and Davis is moving out the ward. Then, on Monday, Trent Summers unexpectedly announced his decision to resign as Ward 3 representative because he is moving out of the ward.

According to the city charter, the council has 60 days from the day of his resignation to appoint someone to serve as the ward's temporary representative. City manager Scott Meyer said there is no specific process the council must follow when selecting the replacement, as long as he or she is at least 21 years old, a registered voter and a resident of Ward 3 for 90 days before the date of vacancy.

Meyer said he expects the council will begin discussing the matter at its Monday meeting, but said it's difficult to say when action will be taken.

" ... We have an election a week from today, so that will change the makeup of council a little as well," he said. "So I don't know if they'll choose to wait [to make the appointment]. I doubt they'll be ready to make an appointment that very night, so they'll probably wait until another meeting to make the temporary appointment."

The city charter says the temporary representative selected by the council may hold the Ward 3 seat "until a special election can be held to fill the vacancy for the balance of the unexpired term, or until the normal expiration date for that term, whatever comes first."

Summers' term was set to expire in 2016, which leaves council with the task of calling for an election and setting up the filing period. City statues require a monthlong filing period 15 weeks before an election, and the Cape Girardeau County Clerk would have to be notified of the election 10 weeks before.

If there are one or two candidates, Meyer said only a general election will be required. If more file, a primary and a general election would be needed.

The nomination process for candidates interested in running for Ward 3 includes the same requirements for the appointed temporary representative, along with a petition with signatures of 50 registered voters in the ward that must be certified by the city clerk.

Ward 3 covers the area east of Kingshighway just past West End Boulevard. From north to south, it stretches from the intersection of Perryville Road and Cape Rock Drive to Shawnee Parkway.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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