ALTUS – A new election date has been set for the city’s vacant Ward 4 seat after a publication notice required by state law was not fulfilled, City Manager Gary Jones said.
City officials submitted the legal notice to the local newspaper, but the notice was not published in a timely manner. As a result, the Ward 4 election will be moved from Nov. 14 to Feb. 13 to accommodate state law regarding public notices.
Ward 4 candidates must now file for office starting Monday, Dec. 18 and continuing until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20.
The council post became vacant when then-Councilman C.J. Morris resigned after moving out of his ward.
“This decision did not come lightly,” Morris wrote in a statement to City Manager Gary Jones, Mayor Robert Garrison and the rest of the council. “I want to thank all the members of the Council, City Manager and Mayor for everything and will run again when the times comes.”
Morris’ resignation was effective Aug. 29 and was formally accepted at the Sept. 5 council meeting. Garrison said Morris initially resigned three months ago but rescinded his resignation when he thought he would be able to find a house in the ward. However, Morris’ plan to continue living in the ward fell through and he was forced to offer his resignation a second time, the mayor said.
Morris, a former city employee, was elected to the council in February and was serving his first term. His successor will serve the remainder of the four-year term.
If more than two candidates file for office, the top two vote-getters will advance to a special general election unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the total vote. If needed, the special general election is scheduled for April 2, 2024.
Filing requirements are that candidates be at least 25 years old, a resident of Ward 4 and have lived in Altus for at least one year preceding the election.