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 If the vote takes place, that person will then be sworn into
service tonight, and will fill the term vacated by former Mayor
Keith Snyder.
The city of Lincoln Aldermen opted to follow the rules set forth by
the State of Illinois Municipal Code in the selection of a new
mayor. According to the state rules, a mayor may be elected by the
governing body when there are less than two years remaining in the
current term.
What is unknown at the moment is what position that newly elected
person will take in filling the seat. Under the state rules, the
newly elected mayor could be seated as an “acting” or interim mayor
or may fill the position permanently. The implication is that if one
chooses to serve as acting, then that person is also choosing to
return to his or her aldermanic seat after the next mayoral election
in 2017. If so, there will be no new alderman appointed to the
council, and for the next 23 months the council will act as a body
of seven rather than a body of eight.
If the position is filled permanently, then the new mayor will be
expected to appoint a constituent from his or her ward to fill the
aldermanic seat.
Former Mayor Keith Snyder learned in March that he had earned an
appointment under Governor Bruce Rauner, with the state of Illinois.
He was also advised that he would have to resign his position not
only as mayor of Lincoln, but also as an administrator at Lincoln
Christian University. When the appointment from Rauner was
announced, Snyder voiced that he was hopeful that he would have time
to give notice to the city and LCU, and work his way out of the
respective offices gradually.
However, the appointment was made official on Friday March 13th, and
on Monday, March 16th, Snyder was informed by representatives from
the governor’s office that the resignations had to be effective
immediately. That Monday night was a voting session of the Lincoln
City Council, and Snyder was not present. The meeting opened with
City Clerk, Susan Gehlbach, presiding and City Administrator, Clay
Johnson, leading the discussions.
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Johnson explained the options before the council, for replacing
Snyder. It was decided quickly that the council would elect a
“chairperson” to preside over council activities until a mayor could
be elected. Todd Mourning nominated Marty Neitzel to fill the chair
position. Neitzel’s appointment was approved by unanimous vote, and
she immediately took the seat at the front of the room and presided
over the balance of the meeting.
As a chair, Neitzel’s primary responsibilities have been to lead the council
meetings and make public appearances where the sitting mayor would normally have
attended. As chair, she maintained her representation of Ward four and voted as
an alderman.
On that first night, the council entered into executive session to discuss the
new vacancy. Because those meetings were closed to the public, the topics
discussed have not been disclosed. After that evening, very little was said
publicly about the pending election of a new mayor.
A second executive session was held on Thursday, April 16th. Again, because the
meeting was closed to the public, no details have been released regarding that
meeting.
It is expected that the nomination and discussion held tonight will be a
reflection of similar conversations in those executive sessions, and that the
candidate or candidates nominated will have already agreed to fill the position
of mayor.
All eight council members are eligible for the position according to the state
municipal code.
[Nila Smith]
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