Official 2008 Presidential General Election Question Text

Talbot County

Vacancies in the County Council

Charter Amendment

Question A

The County Charter provides that within 30 days of a vacancy in the County Council the remaining Council members fill it by appointing a new Council member from a list of three names submitted by the Central Committee of the political party to which the former Council member belonged. The proposed Charter amendment eliminates the Council's power to make the appointment if the vacancy is not filled within 30 days. After that, the Governor of Maryland would make the appointment within the next 30 days. If the Governor fails to act the vacancy would be filled by special election. For vacancies occurring more than 60 days prior to the filing deadline for the primary election for President of the United States, any appointment to fill that vacancy would be effective only until the ensuing presidential election and a special election would be held to fill the balance of the term.