Clarkesville’s City Council met Monday night for the first time since the death of Mayor Terry Greene. The mood was somber as the meeting began, with the crowd standing for a moment of silence in honor and memory of the long time mayor.
The council voted for Casey Ramsey to serve as the city’s mayor until the end of 2016. Ramsey was already a member of the city council and had been elected in the past by the council to substitute for Greene in the event of the late mayor’s absence from a meeting.
Ramsey said Monday night that he only had to serve “maybe three times” during Greene’s multiple terms as mayor. He also said that he thought the council – under his leadership – would continue “in the same direction” that Greene had led.
In fact, the council did vote to re-appoint several city leaders for another term. Janney Sanders will continue as City Attorney; Glenda Smith will continue as City Clerk; Robert Sneed will continue as City Judge; and Barbara Kesler will continue as City Manager.
Attorney Sanders presented a resolution for the council to consider for a 2016 Special Election for Mayor.
The council voted to approve the resolution which states that citizens can vote to elect a new mayor, to serve from December, 2016 to December, 2017, in a special election on March 1, 2016 – the same day as the national Presidential Primary elections.
The qualifying period for those who want to run for Mayor of Clarkesville will be Wednesday, January 27 – Friday, January 29, 2016. Filing, which includes paying a filing fee, should be done in the office of the Habersham County Election Superintendent.
Dr. Greene served as Clarkesville’s mayor for ten years. He was in the middle of his third term when he died December 13th from what authorities have described as a “self-inflicted” gunshot wound.
