By BILL BOWMAN
The Compass
Carbonear voters will be going to the polls March 7 to choose a replacement for former Councillor Gladys Mercer who resigned Jan. 9 after a six-month leave of absence.
Town Clerk Cathy Somers, who will act as returning officer for the byelection, said nominations for candidates to fill the vacant seat will be accepted at the town hall between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 14.
Saturday, March 3 has been set as the date for the advance poll to give eligible voters who will not be in town on polling day the opportunity to cast their ballots.
Council passed a motion setting the above dates and times at its Jan. 23 regular council meeting.
The successful candidate will serve on council for the 20 months remaining in council's current mandate. The next municipal general election is set for September 2013.
Council had earmarked $8,000 in its 2012 budget for "municipal elections & byelections."
Somers explained,"if more than 12 months remains in a council's mandate when a vacancy occurs, council has to hold a byelection to fill the seat. She said polling day must take place no more than 28 days and no less than 21 days after nomination day.
Some 19 candidates ran for the seven available seats in the last municipal general election held Sept. 29, 2009. It is not yet known if any of the 12 unsuccessful candidates in that trip to the polls will be throwing their hat into the municipal ring this time around.
Town Administrator Cynthia Davis will act as alternate returning officer in the event that Somers is unable to carry out the returning officer's duties for any reason.
The returning officer said the successful candidate and new councillor would likely be sworn in during council's second meeting in March, which is scheduled for March 19.
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