For the first time in recent history, no one has filed to run for a City Council post in the small town of Plainville, Ga., leaving the position empty come January.
The City Charter allows the mayor and other council members to appoint someone, but city leaders have not decided what to do, according to City Clerk Sandra Langston.
Plainville, in Gordon County, has a population of fewer than 300, with a mayor and four City Council positions.
“We have a quorum without that position, so we can continue to meet,” said Langston, who has held her office for 14 years. “This is the first time it has happened since I’ve been here.”
Councilman Greg Martin decided not to run for re-election. His term expires in January.
Two other city officials, Mayor Sally Johnston and Councilman Ray Black, have qualified for re-election, but do not have any opponents. The town will not hold elections in November because Johnston and Black are unopposed and the terms of the other two council members are not up yet.
Other towns in Gordon County — Calhoun, Fairmount and Resaca — will hold elections. In those towns, out of 11 positions up for election, eight are contested. Most incumbents have qualified to run again.
Calhoun Mayor Jimmy Palmer and Councilman George R. Crowley are running unopposed. Councilman Al Edwards will face off against challenger Lorene Potts.
For the Calhoun City School Board, incumbent Eddie Reeves will run against Trey Pierson and incumbent Tony Swink is being challenged by Debra Moyer.
In Fairmount, Steve Brannon has qualified to run against Mayor Harry Pierce.
Six people are running for two open posts on Fairmount’s City Council. Linda Sledge Johnson, Jeff Crook and Larry Rogers will compete for Post 2, while Teru “Teddy” Lapaquette, Jerry Mauldin and Calvin T. Watts will battle for Post 4.
Although Johnson and Watts are sitting council members, they’re not running as incumbents, according to Gordon County Board of Elections Director Shea Hicks.
Instead, Johnson served Post 4 but is running for Post 2 while Watts was elected to Post 2 but is running for Post 4.
“I’m not really sure why they switched, but none of them are considered incumbents,” Hicks said.
In Resaca, Mayor Samuel Allen will run unopposed. Incumbent Councilman Jimmy F. Brown will run against Troy Brant Talley, and incumbent Councilman Johnny D. Brown will run against Jean Makonis.
The last day to register to vote is Oct. 11. Early voting begins on Oct. 17 and ends on Nov. 4.