PRESS RELEASE
East Point Ward B At-Large
City Council Seat Vacancy
Today, March 6, 2024, Councilmember Karen René qualified as a candidate to run for a seat in the upcoming general primary election (May 2024).
Per Article II, Section II, Paragraph V of the Georgia Constitution, "The office of any state, county, or municipal elected official shall be declared vacant upon such elected official qualifying, in a general primary or general election, or special primary or special election, for another state, county, or municipal elective office or qualifying for the House of Representatives or the Senate of the United States if the term of the office for which such official is qualifying for begins more than 30 days prior to the expiration of such official's present term of office."
The term of office for the seat Councilmember Rene’ is running for begins in January 2025. Councilmember Rene's present term of office expires December 31, 2025, almost one year after the beginning of the term of office she is seeking. Therefore, the Ward B At-Large City Council seat is now vacant. Since there is more than 12 months remaining in the present Ward B At-Large term of office, a special election will be held to fill the vacant unexpired term of office.
The City Clerk communicated with the Fulton County Board of Elections. For the Ward B At-Large race to be on the May 2024 general primary election ballot, the candidate qualifying period had to be March 4 – 8, 2024. However, since the Ward B At-Large vacancy occurred today, that was not possible. According to the Fulton County Board of Elections, the next opportunity for the vacant Ward B At-Large special election is the November 2024 general election.
The Ward B At-Large Special Election will be on the March 18, 2024, City Council Agenda for discussion and possible action.
Deana Holiday Ingraham
Mayor
