GREENWOOD - Greenwood will hold a mayoral election during the state’s May primaries, City Attorney Michael Hamby said after last week’s resignation of Mayor Del Gabbard.
Gabbard was elected in November 2009 and would have been up for re-election in November, Hamby said.
“I received a fax from the mayor indicating that he was resigning due to health issues, and that is about the extent of what I know,” Hamby said.
Gabbard was in the hospital for more than a month in the fall of 2012, Hamby said.
Jim Gossett, city alderman and mayor pro tempore, will serve as mayor until the position is filled in May, Hamby said. The person elected in May would have to run for re-election in November, he said.
Holding the election during the primary makes the most sense because the state covers election costs at that time, Hamby said. A special election would cost the city $6,000 to $8,000, he said.
Arkansas, Pages 8 on 01/22/2014