Port Orange, FL - After the two other applicants dropped out of the race, the city was left with one choice.
Last night (February 26th), the Port Orange City Council met in chambers for a special meeting to decide who will take the open District 1 seat on the council.
That seat became vacant after former Port Orange police chief Bob Ford passed away from cancer just before Christmas.
In their search, Port Orange had three applicants. The current chairman of Port Orange's Parks & Rec Advisory Board, Jack Wiles, former District 3 council member James Meadows and Brent Warner.
According to Mayor Don Burnette, Warner had dropped out of the race that morning. Then, later on in the day, Meadows contacted Burnette and said that he wanted to withdraw from the race, saying Wiles was more than qualified for the position.
Therefore, with only one applicant, the City of Port Orange swore in Wiles, who will serve as the interim District 1 council member.
"No one can replace Mr. Ford," said Wiles. "On the dais, he challenged our thoughts and our beliefs. He was a smart man, no doubt."
Burnette said that the interim position could last as long as April or June, depending on the outcome of a public vote scheduled on April 30th.
If a candidate in that election does not receive more than 50 % of the vote, the remaining candidates will move on to a runoff in June.
