Alabama: Governor plans to appoint commissioner even though law calls for election
The Birmingham News reports: Gov. Bob Riley plans to appoint a replacement for Birmingham Mayor-elect Larry Langford on the Jefferson County Commission, the governor's spokeswoman said Wednesday.
The governor would not specify who might be appointed or how long it would take, said Tara Hutchison. ...
Langford may take over the mayor's office any time on or before the fourth Tuesday in November, according to the city's Mayor-Council Act.
Hutchison said the governor's legal office is of the opinion he has the authority to make the appointment.
But a Jefferson County-only law in the state code calls for a special election when a seat is vacated well before a county election is scheduled. The next election is set for 2010. -- Riley says he'll name Langford successor- al.com