Per legal counsel, the City Council must declare a vacancy by resolution in the council by effect of former Councilmember Lehman's election as Mayor. The term of office for that vacancy expires the first Monday of 2025.

At some point, Council will need to determine when to hold a special election for the vacancy. State law requires that the special election be held at or before the next regular city election and states that the election can only be held on the second Tuesdays in February, April, May, and August, or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Aprill 11th would be the earliest that the city could hold the election. If that was the date chosen by Council, the filing period for the office would be from January 31 to February 11. Absentee voting would start February 24th.

To meet the deadline for a special election on April 11th, Council will need to pass an ordinance by the January 17th meeting specifying under what circumstances the election will occur. 

Council will also need to determine the process for appointing, and/or appoint an individual to fill the unexpired term of Mayor Lehman until a special election can be held.