Albany City Council was quick to get back at full membership following the recent resignation of Mayor Steve Lawson and the vacancy left on the council due to former councilman James Bray being elected to the Mayor’s seat  by his fellow council members on January 2.
The council, meeting is special session last Friday, January 5, selected an experienced and familiar face to fill Bray’s unexpired term, that being former long-time councilman Leland Hicks.
The council apparently had a few possible candidates they could have nominated, including other former council members or those who filed for a seat in the 2022 election.
At last week’s meeting, Councilman Reed Sloan made a motion to enter into closed session to discuss personnel, which was seconded by Councilwoman Renee York and passed by unanimous vote.
The council was in executive session for approximately 20 minutes.
Upon returning to open session, and with no further discussion, Councilman Randy Speck moved to appoint Hicks to serve out Bray’s term until this year’s November election. The motion was seconded by Councilman Tim Norris, with all council members voting in favor.
With no further items of business on the meeting agenda, the less than half-hour meeting was then adjourned.
Hicks has served for  several years as a city councilman, being elected numerous times, and once deciding not to seek reelection. However, he later ran and was elected again.
Not only has the newest member served consecutive elected terms on the council, this is the second time he has been chosen to fill a vacancy on the governing body.
A few years ago, Hicks was chosen to fill out the unexpired term of the late Gene Ferrill, who passed away while in office.
Hicks is very familiar with city government with years of experience on the job.
Both Hicks and Bray will serve out terms left vacant when former Mayor Lawson stepped down due to health concerns after having served just one year of a four year term.
The November General Election will now see a special race to fill out the mayor’s full term, and all six city council seats will be up for election in 2024.
Mayors serve four year terms and city council members serve two year terms.

Since elected municipal positions are non-partisan, they do not have to run until each general election and do not begin filing for office until summer.

Above, James Bray, left, takes the oath of office from Clinton County Circuit Clerk Jake Staton, becoming Albany’s new Mayor.  Bray, who was a sitting Albany City Council member, was elected to the office by his fellow council members last week following the resignation of Mayor Steve Lawson, who cited health reasons for stepping down just a year after being elected Albany Mayor.

Below, Leland Hicks is administered the oath of office to become the newest member of the Albany City Council, filling the seat vacated when Bray stepped into the Mayor’s role.  Hicks, who has served previously on the city council, was selected by the remaining council members to fill the position.    (Photo by Amanda Dalton)