Special Election Set for Vacant Tuscaloosa City Council Seat

The specifics have been settled for a spring special election in part of Tuscaloosa to fill a vacant city council seat.

As the Thread reported, District 3 City Councilman Norman Crow was elected earlier this month to the Alabama House of Representatives, where he will replace Cynthia Almond in District 63 and speak for the Tuscaloosa area in Montgomery.

Almond, a former member of the Tuscaloosa City Council herself, left the seat after Governor Kay Ivey appointed her to lead the Alabama Public Service Commission.

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In filling the vacancy, Crow left one on the city council - he was re-elected last March and three years still remain on this term. On Tuesday night, the remaining six council members approved the details of a special election to fill the empty seat.

First, interested candidates who live north of the Black Warrior River in District 3 must qualify to seek the office before 5 p.m. on February 17th.

If only one candidate qualifies, they could be sworn in very quickly after qualification ends.

As long as more than one is in the race, a special election will be held on Tuesday, April 14th. The district's polling place at the Church of the Highlands on Rice Mine Road will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for voters to cast ballots.

In the event that three or more candidates seek the office and none of them wins more than 50 percent of the vote in April, a runoff between the highest two performers would be held on Tuesday, May 12th. 

So far, businessman Richard Henry is the only candidate to officially declare an interest in the District 3 council seat. 

For more coverage of the race, if one is necessary, and other news from City Hall, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.

Anyone wishing to share their candidacy here can reach the editor at stephen.dethrage@townsquaremedia.com.