Politics & Government
Rob Usher To Take Office on Monday
Usher was the only qualifier for the March 17 special election to fill the unexpired term of former Woodstock Council member Tessa Basford.
The only candidate to qualify for the March 17 special election to fill the vacant Ward 6 seat on the Woodstock City Council will be sworn into office on Monday.
Rob Usher will take his oath at the Woodstock City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Chambers at City Center. A meet and greet reception for Usher will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the chambers.
Usher was the only candidate to qualify for the election, which was scheduled to fill the unexpired term of former Council member Tessa Basford. Basford passed away in October 2014 following a long battle with cancer.
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Since Usher was the only candidate to qualify, “Usher is deemed to have voted for himself, making the need for an election null and void,” the city said in its press release, referring to Georgia code 21-2-493.
The code section notes:
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Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event there is no opposed candidate in a precinct in a special or general election, no special or general election shall be held in such precinct unless a write-in candidate has qualified as provided by law or unless there are issues to be submitted to the electorate. Except as provided in Code Section 21-2-158, each such unopposed candidate shall be deemed to have voted for himself or herself. Where feasible, the superintendent shall provide notice reasonably calculated to inform the affected electorate that no special or general election is to be conducted. The superintendent shall certify such unopposed candidate as elected in the same manner as he or she certifies other candidates as elected pursuant to Code Section 21-2-493.
Since Usher is the only candidate, the city will cancel the March 17 special election.
Usher, who just completed his first and only term on the Cherokee County School Board, has lived in Woodstock for 18 years. He and wife Pam have two daughters, Meagan Usher and Kimberly Smith.
The Chambers at City Center are at 8534 Main Street and the ceremony is open to the public.
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