City shares protocols for filling City Council vacancies

In response to multiple inquiries, the City of Columbia is sharing the protocols for filling vacancies on Columbia City Council.  Due to the death of Councilwoman Leona K. Plaugh, the city of Columbia must follow specific protocols to fill the City Council vacancy for District 4.  Please note that no specific City Council meeting date has been set to discuss this matter.  City Council will designate a meeting date (to be announced) and the City Manager will move forward as deemed appropriate.  All matters regarding this process will be shared with the public.

In the event of a vacancy on City Council, the following procedures would be followed regarding a special election:

1. The Mayor will call a special meeting for the purpose of setting the date for a Special Election to fill the vacant City Council seat and to announce the dates for the opening and closing of the books for candidate filing.  The city will provide at least 24 hours’ notice of such special meeting, which meeting shall be open to the public. [Columbia City Code §2-51]

2. Council will pass a resolution setting the date of the Special Election to fill the vacant City Council seat for 13 Tuesdays after the vacancy occurs.  The resolution shall also establish that candidates may begin to file their statement of candidacy and completed Statement of Economic Interest with the City Clerk at noon on the third Fridayafter the vacancy occurs. Filings for candidates will remain open for 10 days and will close at noon 10 days after the third Friday after the vacancy occurs. [SC Code §7-13-190]

3. The City will publish in The State newspaper 2 Public Notices containing the details of the Special Election.  The first Public Notice will be published no less than 60 days prior to the date of the Special Election.  The second Public Notice will be published not later than 2 weeks after the first Public Notice is published.  [SC Code §7-13-35]

Constituents of a council district that does not have a representative currently serving in office still have representatives on City Council through the Mayor and 2 at-large council members who represent all citizens of the City of Columbia.

Regarding mayor pro tempore, the City Code is silent on what to do if the mayor pro temp position becomes vacant.  Section 2-7 merely says the council shall elect a mayor pro temp at the first Council meeting in January following a general election.  Council could elect an interim mayor pro tempore at the special called meeting referenced above or at a regular meeting after the vacancy occurs.