2023 Mayor and Council Vacancies

In late 2022 and in early 2023, the City of Lindström went through some changes in the City Council.  Please read the following publications for details regarding the reason for the vacancies and the appointment process:
  • Lindström Ledger: February 2023 (pages 1-3)
  • Lindström Ledger: March 2023 (page 2)
  • Lindström Ledger: April 2023 (pages 1 & 2)
  • For meeting minutes and agendas, click HERE (select January, February, and March 2023 City Council meetings)

The vacant roles of Mayor and Council Members were appointed in March of 2023.  For more information about the City Council, click HERE.

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Why did City Council Members appoint the vacant Mayor position and the vacant City Council Member position instead of holding a special election?

The law that governs is Minnesota Statutes Section 412.02 subdivision 2a.  It provides that when less than two years remain in the unexpired term, there need not be a special election to fill the vacancy and the appointed person shall serve until the qualification of a successor.  So, since there are less than two years remaining in the term of the vacated offices, the Council can appoint someone to fill the vacancy in the office of Mayor and Council Member and there would not need to be a special election.

Note that if a Council Member with more than two years remaining in their term were appointed Mayor, then the Council would need to appoint someone to fill the vacancy created by the Council Member becoming Mayor and there would need to be special election at the next regularly scheduled election which would be November 2024 to fill the Council Member’s remaining unexpired term.  The appointed person would fill the vacancy until the successor is elected at the special election and qualifies for office.

To be eligible to hold office the individual must be:
  1. A qualified City voter,
  2. At least 21 years of age on the date of taking office,
  3. A U.S. citizen, and
  4. A resident of the City of Lindström for at least 30 days before the election.

For a summary of the roles and responsibilities of Mayor and City Council Members: Click HERE

The deadline for submitting a letter of interest for the 2023 Mayor and Council Member vacancies was Friday, February 3, 2023 at noon.