With no names on the ballot in the latest election for mayor and two aldermen positions in the town of Dowelltown, the position of mayor has been filled by an appointment by the town council. Alderman Greg Fish has been picked as the interim mayor, leaving another empty alderman seat to be filled.

A mayor and two aldermen were to have been elected there on August 1, but there were no qualified candidates, either on the ballot or as write-ins. Dowelltown’s government consist of a mayor and five aldermen, with four-year terms that are staggered. Four years ago, Pam Redmon was elected mayor, while Phillip D. Byford and Chris Walker were elected as alderman.

The current makeup of the Dowelltown Board of Aldermen is Donnie Braswell, Chris Walker, Tisha Hendrixson, and Eric Snow. Byford no longer serves due to moving out of the city limits, while Ron Griffith resigned due to health reasons. Tisha Hendrixson was appointed to Griffith’s seat on the board, while Donnie Braswell took Byford’s place.

According to state law, if no one is on the ballot and no write-in candidates are elected, the seats remained filled by the previous person until they resign, leaving Braswell, Walker, Hendrixson, and Snow as aldermen and the appointment of Fish as mayor.

Two years ago, two aldermen were supposed to have been elected, but only one person ran, Fish, who was re-elected at that time. Fish’s alderman seat is now vacant and will apparently have to be filled by appointment of the remaining board of aldermen.