Breaking: Council will not replace Stevens

District 3 will not have representation on the Goldsboro City Council until after the November election.

Members of the board voted Monday during their work session to allow voters who show up to the polls this fall to decide who will fill the seat left vacant earlier this month when Mark Stevens abruptly resigned.

Stevens, who gave up his post to pursue career opportunities in Florida, was, just before he announced he was stepping down, critical of the Antonio Williams censure hearing he voted to hold.

Williams expressed concerns over the notion of not having a sitting representative for the district until after the election and went as far as suggesting that the runner-up in the vote that put Stevens on the council get the seat.

“They are taxpayers there and they need to have representation,” Williams said.

But other members of the council noted that the process by which the board would likely replace Stevens — which would include advertising the position, an application window and interviews — would leave whoever was ultimately selected with limited time to serve.

The motion to not replace Stevens passed, but not unanimously. Williams and District 4 councilman Bevan Foster voted against it.

All, however, agreed to pick up the slack.

“I do want (District 3) to know that I do believe everybody here will step up,” Mayor Chuck Allen said. “If you have any issues in District 3, feel free to call. You can call me or you can call any of us and we’ll be here.”