Candidates can start filing Tuesday for Columbia City Council’s Fifth Ward seat. Council members approved a special election to replace Helen Anthony, who will resign at the end of the month.
Anthony said the election is important for Fifth Ward residents.
“If we do have a February election, the seat will be vacant December-January — that’s two months," Anthony said. "If we put it off till April, that’s another additional two months. I understand it is an additional cost: $10-12,000. I feel badly about that, again, but I really feel that the Fifth Ward residents need representation, and that is a small amount of money to have representation for an additional two months.”
One Columbia resident criticized the additional election, saying it’s a short filing and campaign period, which could be combined with the April election to save money. Council members set the election date for Feb. 5, 2013.