Title
Setting August 14, 2018 as the Special Election date to fill the vacancy of the Ward 4 City Council member.
Body
WHEREAS, on January 25, 2018, pursuant to section 2.04 Saint Paul City Charter, Councilmember Russ Stark filed his resignation in writing with the City Clerk; and
WHEREAS, Councilmember Stark’s resignation will be effective on February 16, 2018, thereby creating a vacancy in the office of councilmember for Ward 4 on February 18, 2018; and
WHEREAS, an interim councilmember will be selected to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Councilmember Russ Stark, pursuant to Section 2.05 (A) of the Saint Paul City Charter; and
WHEREAS, Section 2.05 (B) of the Saint Paul City Charter, states that “the council shall call a special election for the purpose of filling the vacancy; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statute Section 205.10, Subd. 3a states that a municipal special election can only be held on “the second Tuesday in February, the second Tuesday in April, the second Tuesday in May, the second Tuesday in August, or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November”; and
WHEREAS, the Council has consulted with Ramsey County Elections and learned that holding the special election on the second Tuesday in August would mean that the special election would coincide with the State Primary Election; and
WHEREAS, holding the special election on the same day as the State Primary Election would likely increase voter turnout and reduce costs by an estimated $35,000 to $40,000; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul, pursuant to Section 2.05 (B) of the Saint Paul City Charter, does hereby set August 14, 2018, as the special election date to fill the vacancy of the Ward 4 councilmember