Gateway council to replace mayor

GATEWAY — City Council members are not in a rush to replace Mayor David White who resigned last week.

White was elected in November 2010 with 50 votes defeating long-time mayor Lida Schnitzer who received 39 votes. White’s wife, Terri, was elected to the City Council in 2010, then defeated in 2012 by Sharon Barnett. (White received 46 votes; Barnett received 82.)

“As a councilman, I want to look at not rushing into finding the mayor,” Cheryl Tillman said. “I think we should take it step by step and talk to people who are wanting to be mayor.”

City attorney Joanne McCracken said the council has the power to fill the vacancy, but is not under time pressure as is a city of the second class. She said the appointed mayor may hold the position until the next election. McCracken said she had not seen White’s resignation letter.

Tillman said White had threatened to resign during the special City Council meeting March 19 when asked to spend time at City Hall. She said he said he couldn’t because he had a lot of doctor’s appointments. When asked for doctor’s notes for accountability, Tillman said White said he wasn’t a child and would just resign.

“Our parks and roads guy, James Appleton, and Sherry Robinette are doing fine. If we can get by with those two running it a while, we can work on finding someone good,” Tillman said.

Robinette said she believed the attorney said the council could appoint the replacement.

In the Arkansas Municipal League “Guidebook for Municipal Officials of Mayor/Council Cities,” it states: “In an incorporated town the aldermen select a qualified elector to fill the mayoral vacancy and do not hold a special election.”

Gateway is an incorporated town with a population of 405, according to Robinette.