Burlington and Camden to fill vacancies on town councils

The towns of Burlington and Camden are in similar situations. They have both lost their town council presidents to death.

Burlington Town Council President Richard “Dick” Davis died Dec. 12 and Camden Town Council President Ralph Rohrabaugh died Dec. 17.

However filling their unexpired terms on their respective councils will be different according to Indiana Code because Davis ran on an independent ticket, while Rohrabaugh ran on a major party ticket.

Because the Progressive Party is an independent ticket, Davis’s vacancy will be filled by the remaining members of the council (Wayne Swaim and Norm McGill) at a regular or special meeting. The appointment must be made within 30 days of the created vacancy. According to the town clerk-treasurer’s office, the appointment has tentatively been set for the next regular meeting which will be Jan. 10

Because Rohrabaugh was a candidate of the Democratic Party, Indiana Code states that his position will be filled by a caucus of eligible precinct committeemen. Jackson Township has only one precinct. The law states that if there are fewer than two persons who are eligible to participate in a precinct committeeman caucus, then the party chairman can file a certificate of appointment pro tempore to fill the office with the Carroll County Clerk’s Office. Democratic Party Chairman Dick Roe has said that he will file the form that gives him the authority to fill Rohrabaugh’s unexpired term. That appointment, too, must be made within 30 days of the created vacancy.

Both of the unexpired terms are up at the end of 2007.