Milton Cancels Nov. 5 Election

Since none of the incumbents up for re-election will face opposition, the city of Milton has cancelled its Nov. 5 elections. 

Incumbents Mayor Joe Lockwood and council members Bill Lusk of District 2/Post 1, Karen Thurman of District 1/Post 1 and District 3/Post 1 Councilman Joe Longoria all qualified to run for re-election. 

In the planned special election to fill the seat that will be vacated by Lance Large, resident Rick Mohrig qualified to finish out the term. 

However, in a notice of cancellation signed by the elections superintendent for the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections, the city cites Georgia Code 21-2-291, which reads:

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.

City Clerk Sudie Gordon said the city would have spent $70,000 on the election.

It pays Fulton County in advance to handle the election, and Gordon noted the county board of elections is slated to refund any money not used back to Milton. 

A runoff would have meant an additional $30,000 in costs for the city.
"We're saving quite a bit of money," she added by canceling the election.
Mohrig will be sworn in on Nov. 13 while the incumbents will be sworn in on Jan. 6, the first regular city council meeting of the year.

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