Monterey Board Of Aldermen May Not Fill Mayor Vacancy Until Next Election

The Town of Monterey has been without a mayor for almost five months following the passing of Mayor Nathan Walker.

While some have called for a special election, the Board of Aldermen has said in the fall it would wait until after the holiday season to make an appointment. Now, Alderman Bill Wiggins said the position could potentially remain vacant until the next election.

“We’ve still got the Board of Aldermen,” Wiggins said. “There was an election last August and these people were elected to conduct town business according to the founding documents for this town which have been around since 1893.”

Alderman Charles Looper said he feels similarly. He said because the Board has been operating smoothly with Vice-Mayor Mark Farley assuming the duties of Mayor, he does not believe it is necessary to rush to appoint another at this time.

“The residents of Monterey need to know and they deserve to know, I understand that. And all we can tell them at this point is that we’re functioning well without a designated mayor,” Looper said. “We’re doing okay. I don’t see a problem with it. Which, of course, if something did come up that we can’t handle, of course we would have to appoint somebody.”

Looper said he believes that each alderman and each city employee is capable of continuing to run the town smoothly until the next election.

Alderwoman Amy Martin said she does not have any knowledge of any plans or conversations regarding the matter. She said she only heard as the general public did during the Board’s monthly meeting that it would be discussed after the first of the year and has not heard anything since.

Alderman Alex Garcia said as of now, he had no comment.