The Blackshear City Council will appoint a new representative for its sixth district and the seat will be up for election in the November municipal general election.
Current District 6 Councilman Mark Deal officially resigned from the post. Deal’s letter of resignation was read during the regular monthly meeting of the Blackshear City Council, Tuesday, June 13. The resignation was unanimously accepted.
Deal recently moved out of the district and out of the city. Deal and his family recently relocated to a new home in northern Pierce County, outside city limits, and he could no longer represent his old district.
Residency will also be a key issue for whoever replaces him.
The city council agreed to receive nominations for a replacement at their next meeting. After reviewing nominees, the council will put the matter to a vote and appoint the interim council member.
However, anyone entering the position would have to run for election in November and due to re-districting will have to be a resident of both the old and newly redistricted area still known for the time being as District 6, though that name won’t last for long.
The city’s districts have been re-drawn, a process which takes place every decade following the national census.
District 5, currently represented by Sharon Komanecky, is being absorbed into the surrounding districts. This will bring Blackshear’s total districts to five, meaning that whoever wins Deal’s vacant spot in November will be representing the new District 2, covering the northern parts of the city formerly known as District 6.
