Mayoral Succession in New Orleans
Karen was asking about who would succeed SeeRay if he were to "retire." The only time that mayoral succession has kicked in since the city charter was changed to create a mayor-council government was in 1961. Then-mayor DeLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison was tapped by JFK to be Ambassador to the Organization of American States.
The charter (and I find no references to this procedure changing since 1961) called for the council to choose between the two Councilmen-at-Large. At that time, Schiro was elected Mayor by a vote of 5-1 (he abstained). There was no special election; Schiro was "Interim Mayor" until the next election, when he ran and won.
So, were SeeRay to resign, the council would have to choose between Fielkow and Clarkson. The winner would hold office until the 2009 election cycle.
The charter (and I find no references to this procedure changing since 1961) called for the council to choose between the two Councilmen-at-Large. At that time, Schiro was elected Mayor by a vote of 5-1 (he abstained). There was no special election; Schiro was "Interim Mayor" until the next election, when he ran and won.
So, were SeeRay to resign, the council would have to choose between Fielkow and Clarkson. The winner would hold office until the 2009 election cycle.
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