FAQ's about filling a vacancy on the Carolina Beach Town Council | Business

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WECT) – With the recent resignation of the mayor, town manager and a councilman of Carolina Beach, leaders are working to find their replacements.

Town council has received several questions about the current vacancies and the forthcoming appointments that will be made in the near future.

Town leaders released a document Tuesday in an effort to answer questions and provide information about how and eligible voter of the town can seek appointment to one of the open positions.

Here is the FAQ’s leaders released:

Who is eligible?

Any eligible voter of the town. 

If the mayor resigns does the mayor pro tempore automatically become the mayor?

No.  The council can appoint the mayor pro tem, but is not required to do so.

Can a sitting member of council be appointed to fill the office of mayor?

Yes.  The council member would not have to resign before the vote to fill the vacancy.  He or she would have to resign before taking the oath as mayor and beginning to serve as mayor.

Is the appointment to fill the vacancy of the mayor’s seat and the council member’s seat for the remainder of the term or until the next election?

The person appointed to fill the vacant mayor’s seat and the vacant council member’s seat will serve until the next municipal election (November 2013). 

If a sitting member of council is appointed to the vacated mayor’s seat and his/her original council seat has not expired is it possible to return to the original council seat to complete that term?

A sitting member of council would be relinquishing the current council seat to serve as mayor until the next municipal election (November 2013).  He/she would have to run for public office and be reelected at that time for the mayor’s seat, council member seat or the council member seat with 2 years remaining if Council Member Shuttleworth or Council Member Friede is appointed (further explanation below).    

These are the terms of office for the sitting members of Council: 

                Council Member                   Appointment Date              Expiration Date

                Steve Shuttleworth                 12/13/2011                        12/08/2015

                Bob Lewis                                        12/08/2009                        12/10/2013

                Sarah Friede                                   12/13/2011                        12/08/2015

Which seats will be available for election in 2013?

The mayor seat (2 year term of office), Council Member Bob Lewis’s seat (4 year term of office), Council Member Lashley’s seat (4 year term of office), and possibly there will be a third council member seat with a 2 year term of office if Council Member Shuttleworth or Council Member Friede is appointed by Council to fill the mayor’s vacated seat.   Normally every election cycle the mayor’s seat and 2 council members’ seats are available; however, if Council Member Shuttleworth or Council Member Friede is selected for appointment there will be another seat available but for only a 2 year term of office.  The election cycle will return to the normal schedule in 2015. 

These are the scenarios that could occur:

• If Steve Shuttleworth or Sarah Friede is appointed to the mayor’s seat he/she will be giving up his current seat on council which will be filled by an eligible voter of the town.  This means that Steve Shuttleworth or Sarah Friede will now be mayor and giving up his/her council member seat.  He/she may run for office in November 2013 along with any other eligible voters of the town for any of the available seats.
• If Council Member Lewis is appointed to the mayor’s seat he will also be giving up his current seat on council which will be filled by an eligible voter of the town during the next municipal election (2013).  Council Member Lewis’s current seat is already scheduled to expire during the next municipal election.
• Council may also appoint any eligible voter of the town to fill the mayor’s seat and the council member’s seat.  Appointees will serve until December 10, 2013 at which time the terms expire.  They may file in July to run for any of the public office seats available during the municipal election to be held in November 2013 along with any other eligible voter in the town. 

How can I apply for the appointment to the mayor or council member seats?

Council is asking that all eligible voters of the town seeking appointment to submit to the Carolina Beach Town Council a letter of interest to include your name, address, contact information (such as telephone numbers and e-mail address), and include in the letter your qualifications and/or experience that you feel would be beneficial to the community.  A resume is not necessary.  If you have a preference you may want to identify which position you prefer – mayor or council member.  Letters of interest will be accepted until Friday, November 30, 2012 at 12:00 noon.   Mail letters of interest to:  Carolina Beach Human Resources Officer, 1121 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach, NC  28428.  Questions call 910-458-9530.

Keep in mind that records relating to applicants or nominees to fill these vacancies are public records.   Since these are not considered to be regular employee positions of the town information such as telephone numbers and addresses is not protected. 

Is there any particular voting process required to fill these vacancies?

No.  There are no specific rules by law.  Council will determine a method and selections will be made by majority vote.  It is Council’s intention to fill the vacancies at their regular meeting on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.

All appointments will be made in open session.  Council is not permitted to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, appointment, or removal of a member of the public body or another public body and may not consider or fill a vacancy among its own membership except in open meeting (NCGS 143-318.11(a)(6).