SUMNER — There will be no special election for alderman here after all.
Because Charles Harris (Charlie) Robinette III was the only person to qualify for a vacant at-large seat on the Sumner Board of Aldermen, state law provides that he be appointed to the post, according to Town Clerk Toni Clark.
Robinette, 34, of 211 Jennings St., Sumner, qualified Feb. 25. No one else tossed their hat into the ring by the 5 p.m. deadline on March 2.
“The law says that if only one person qualifies for a special election, the governing authority shall appoint that person to fill the vacancy in lieu of an election,” Clark explained.
A special election had been scheduled for March 22 to fill a vacancy on the five-member board following the Jan. 30 death of longtime alderman Leonard Patterson, 77.
Clark said Tuesday that she had spoken with the secretary of state’s office and was awaiting a call from the state attorney general’s office for guidance about how the town board should proceed in making the appointment.
Even then, she noted that Robinette would have to be bonded before he could be administered the oath of office.
Robinette would be expected to serve out the remainder of Mr. Patterson’s unexpired term, which runs until June 30, 2017.
