Lassiter agrees to take city reins June 1; council will then fill vacated D-4 seat
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Current District 4 Atmore City Councilman Shawn Lassiter, a native and lifelong resident of the community, announced last week that he will gladly accept the interim mayor post when Mayor Jim Staff steps down after May 31, five months before his term officially expires.
“As Mayor Pro Tem, I am legally next in line to serve part-time as mayor when Jim resigns,” said Lassiter, who was at a business function in Idaho when reached by phone. “I am willing and honored to do that. Right now, though, everything will go on like normal.”
When Lassiter steps into the mayor’s office on June I, the remaining city council members will have 60 days to fill the vacancy that will be created on the council. The fill-in councilor will serve only the unexpired portion of Lassiter’s District 4 term (through November 3, when a new administration will be sworn into office) and must be chosen by district voters in the August 26 municipal election in order to serve a full term.
If the council cannot decide upon an interim representative for the district, council members could petition Gov. Kay Ivey to fill the vacant slot. In that case, each (including the mayor) will be allowed to submit a name for the governor’s consideration.
Lassiter will give up his council seat on June 1 and will serve the remainder of Staff’s term, which also expires November 3. If he desires to continue as mayor, he will also face voters on August 26.
If Lassiter chooses that route, he will apparently not do so unchallenged. Perennial city government candidate Sandra Gray has already thrown her hat into the ring, and at least two others say they are considering a run for the post.
All five council seats will be up for grabs, too. When contacted recently, neither District 1’s Webb Nall, District 2’s Jerome Webster, District 3’s Eunice Johnson nor District 5’s Chris Harrison were willing to say yet whether he or she would seek re-election.
Atmore City Clerk Becca Smith said qualifying for mayoral and council candidates will begin in her office at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, and will continue until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24. The qualifying fee for each of the six city offices is $50.
Smith also pointed out several dates that are important ones for potential municipal voters and candidates alike. Among them:
*May 28 — Last day for a potential candidate to establish residency within the city or a particular district.
*July 27 — Last day for a potential voter to establish residency within the municipality or a particular district.
*August 11 — Last day to register to vote in the municipal election.