Candidates may file from 8 a.m., July 24 until 5 p.m. July 26

JERRY FINK

MANAGING EDITOR

The City of Eufaula will hold a special election on Sept. 12 to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term of the City Council Ward IV seat.

Candidates who want to file for the position must submit Declarations of Candidacy forms with the McIntosh County Election Board.

The filing period begins at 8 a.m. Monday, July 24 and ends at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 26.

No filing fee is required. Statutes require that a candidate must be a registered voter at an address within the ward for at least six months prior to filing a Declaration of Candidacy.

A ward map for the City of Eufaula may be accessed at cityofeufaulaok. com/government/ city-council.

Contests of Candidacy may be filed no later than 5 p.m. Friday, July 28, and may only be filed by another candidate for that office unless a candidate files unopposed.

The deadline for candidate withdrawals is also 5 p.m. on Friday, July 28.

The Ward IV seat became vacant with the resignation of Dan Kir-by, 65, on March 9, the day after a sealed indictment by a grand jury in Muskogee charged him with involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country in connection with a motorcycle accident that claimed the life of Sheryl Bischel.

Kirby was found guilty of the felony in federal district court on June 28. Sentencing is pending.

Meanwhile, he still faces a civil lawsuit filed on Nov. 21, 2022 by Ricky L. Gragg of Wilburton, son of Bischel and administrator of her estate. The suit seeks in excess of $75,000.

The city council considered interviewing candidates for the vacancy in April and appointing one of them to fill Kirby’s unexpired term.

Five people applied, but before any action was taken the council voted on whether they should appoint someone or call for a special election.

Because of Kirby’s resignation the fivemember council was reduced to four, which resulted in a stalemate.

Two voted for a special election and two for appointment.

Mayor Todd Warren and Ward III Council Member Jamie Upton voted to choose Emma Watts to fill the empty seat.

Newly elected Vice Mayor Josh Cummings and former Vice Mayor Nancy Mouser opted to hold a special election and let the voters make the decision.

The tie resulted in the calling of a special election, by default.