Pemberville resignation ends quorum on council

10/20/2005

PEMBERVILLE, Ohio Pemberville Village Council was forced to cancel its regular meeting Tuesday night because a councilman submitted his resignation, after which the council lacked a quorum.

Brandon Donaldson, 31, a maintenance technician appointed to council in January, submitted his resignation due to personal reasons. His resignation took effect Tuesday.

Mr. Donaldson had filed petitions with the Wood County Board of Elections to run for his first four-year term in November, but said he s going to ask that his name be taken off the ballot. But officials at the elections board said it may be too late for that.

Mr. Donaldson would have to submit a letter asking to be taken off the electronic, touch-screen voting ballots, but he cannot be taken off the paper ballots for absentee votes because officials said they already have been printed.

Depending on when the elections board receives his letter, his name also could appear on the electronic voting machines. Any votes Mr. Donaldson receives would not be counted, elections officials said.

Mr. Donaldson became the second village councilman to resign in the last month.

Gary Brann submitted his resignation Sept. 19 because he was moving out of the village.

Council chose not to fill Mr. Brann s seat when he resigned because the election was less than two months away.