An unusual circumstance has added weight to this year’s primary election as voters are set to elect one one of Alliance’s City Council Members, who will be seated in June.
City Clerk Shelbi Pitt said the election on May 14 will fill the vacancy on the council left when Mayor Mike Dafney resigned in April of 2023. Mayor Earl Jones has been serving in the position after being appointed to fill the role until the next election.
“The city, at the time, was under the understanding that the person would serve until the general election, but the Secretary of State deemed that the primary election would be considered the next election,” said Pitt. “That is how we came to somebody getting elected at the primary election.”
Pitt explained that Jones will complete his service after the last city council meeting in May, after which, the winner of the election will be sworn in at the first meeting in June to serve the remainder of Dafney’s term. At that time, the council will undergo a reorganization, with council members electing a new mayor and vice mayor. Pitt encourages Alliance citizens to take part in this election, noting it has more weight than most primaries.
“It’s just really important for people to go out and vote since the primary is going to be a seating election,” Pitt said. “Typically a very low number of individuals who are registered to vote, vote during the primary election and wait for the general. So, where this is seating someone, it’s very important for people to get out and make sure they go and vote on May 14.”