Luray Town Council Seeks To Fill Vacancy

Town Council has submitted a petition to Page County Circuit Court seeking confirmation that it does not need to hold a special election to fill a vacancy on the panel.

 

Councilman Lonnie Arrington, 70, stepped down in the middle of his second four-year term for health reasons on Jan. 29. Town attorney Jason Spitler believes state code grants council the authority to appoint a person to take Arrington’s seat without holding an election.

 

Spitler drafted a petition for a judge to verify the opinion. Council approved an order to send to the court Monday night, interim Town Manager Jerry Schiro said.

 

Arrington’s term on council ends June 30, 2014. The next regular election for council is May 6, 2014.

 

Because the end of the term falls within 60 days of the next general election for the position, no special election is needed, the order says.

 

Council will wait until the judge’s ruling before filling the position, Schiro said. It has 45 days from Arrington’s resignation to appoint a new member, which gives it until March 15.

 

Arrington, who was Luray’s assistant town manager for 22 years before retiring in 2005, was first elected to council in 2006, and then won re-election in 2010.

 

Through that time, he said he is proudest of taking part in the construction of a new park and the Luray Hawksbill Greenway, renovating the train station and opening a Page County center for Lord Fairfax Community College in Luray.

 

“I was a very, very, very fortunate person to be able to work with and have a hand in some projects in the town,” Arrington said.

 

He encourages Town Council to appoint someone younger who can “grow on the job.”

 

“I hope they don’t rush it,” Arrington said. “We have an excellent Town Council and mayor. They are outstanding.”

 

Contact Preston Knight at 574-6272 or pknight@dnronline.com