Incumbent Rock Hall Mayor Robert Willis lost his bid for reelection to Councilman and Vice Mayor Brian Jones in Saturday’s mayoral and council elections. In unofficial results, Jones received over 300 of the 442 votes.
Former mayor Rosalie Kuechler and Bran Nesspor were elected to the two open council seats. Mark Einstein came in third.
Willis’ term was marred by a contentious relationship with the city government including a lawsuit filed against three council members. In June of 2014 a circuit court judge ruled to quash Willis’ lawsuit against councilmen Brian Jones, Brian Nesspor and Olin “Butch” Price.
In 2014 Willis also received a vote of no confidence from the municipal government stating that they would only operate under the majority votes of the town council.
Brian Jones’s former council seat remains open and will be filled by appointment.
julie donovan says
Great news for Rock Hall…. Good luck Brian… a very solid win.
Keith Thompson says
Editor,
The story states that Brian Jones’ open council seat will be filled by appointment. The following is Section 604-A from the Rock Hall town charter amended 3-29-91…
“In case of a vacancy on the Council for any reason, the Council shall, within 45 days of the occurrence of the vacancy, elect some qualified person to fill such vacancy until the next regular town election. At the next regular election the persons receiving the two highest votes shall fill the regular four-year terms. Any vacancy in an unexpired term shall be filled by person(s) receiving the next highest vote(s). In case of a vacancy in the office of Mayor for any reason, the Council, within 45 days, shall elect some qualified person from the existing Council to fill the vacancy until the next regular town election. The results of all votes filling vacancies shall be recorded in the minutes of the Council.”
My interpretation of this ordinance would indicate that the next highest vote getter in the regular election (in this case Mark Einstein) would fill the unexpired council term of Brian Jones. As a matter of precedence four years ago, Brian Jones was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Bob Willis after he lost the coin toss in the second place tie with Brian Nesspor. If my interpretation is not correct, at the very least this ordinance is so poorly written as to invite confusion and should be fixed.
Gren Whitman says
Fortunately for Rock Hall’s citizenry, an actual attorney — assuredly not Mr. Thompson! — is providing sound legal advice to the members of the Rock Hall Town Council.
Town Attorney Charles “Chip” MacLeod skillfully guided the Council through now-ex-Mayor Willis’ lawsuit, and won, and I am confident Mr. MacLeod continues to give good advice.
Mr. Thompson may not agree, but who cares?
Keith Thompson says
I agree with you that Chip MacLeod skillfully guided the council through the former mayor’s lawsuit, but the fact remains that end result was that the legal strategy to win the suit was to clarify and change the language in the charter. I would hope that the former mayor’s lawsuit will prompt the new mayor and council to look at the entire charter, including the ordinance I’ve copied above, and clarify and clear up the language to reduce the possibility of further lawsuits.