The Chattanooga City Council is likely to soon appoint someone to fill a vacancy left by one of their colleagues and considered on Tuesday whether to seek a pledge from the temporary replacement not to run for election to the seat.
The vacancy is being left by Councilman Anthony Byrd of Orchard Knob, who is pending council approval of his appointment as city court clerk.
Although the council has no legal authority to block the appointee filling the seat from running in the next election, its members at a special committee meeting Tuesday debated requiring a verbal pledge not to, out of fairness to other candidates for the office.
Council members in a 6-2 vote opted not to require any such promises.
“The community should have the choice of who they want to vote for whether they’re interim now or decide to run in August,” said Councilwoman Raquetta Dotley, of East Lake.