Mayor may resign

The vice mayor position in Maitland just got a little heavy.

Maitland Mayor Doug Kinson, who's running for Orange County Commission District 5, must resign from his seat by June 4 in order to qualify as a county candidate. Per the city's charter, a city councilor, likely the vice mayor, would be appointed to serve out the rest of Kinson's term — 15 months.

"There's much more to being vice mayor at this time than some of us once thought," Kinson said at Monday's Council meeting.

According to the county's resign-to-run law, Kinson must submit a letter of resignation 10 days before the qualification period for the District 5 seat currently held by Bill Segal, who is running for mayor and must file a similar resignation. The resignations would take effect in January.

The vice mayor position has historically been ceremonial. A new vice mayor is elected every year and that person fills in for the mayor when he's absent — which has never happened during Kinson's tenure.

Councilwoman Bev Reponen is currently vice mayor, but at Monday's meeting, the Council was scheduled to appoint a new one. Kinson asked that the item be tabled until the next Council meeting, on May 10, so the Council could examine the commitment involved in being the next person to hold that title.

"Take the next two weeks, for those who want to throw their hat into the ring, to really think about it," he said.

The Council person who becomes mayor would forfeit their term and assume the mayor's. A citizen would be appointed to fill out the rest of that Council person's term until the next general election, March 2011.

If Council members Phil Bonus or Linda Frosch became mayor, their time on Council will be extended by three months. If Council members Bev Reponen and Howard Schieferdecker, who were just sworn in for a three-year term on Monday, became mayor it would shorten their time on Council by more than a year.

Kinson hasn't said he is definitely resigning. His name is on the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Web site under the District 5 seat, but he can still back out. His opponent, former County Commissioner Ted Edwards has raised more than $130,000, while he has raised $21,135.

"This is all moot if I don't submit that letter (of resignation)," he said with a laugh.

Schieferdecker said he doesn't think a Council member should serve as mayor. He suggested that the city change its charter and hold a special election to elect a new mayor.

"If it costs the city money, so be it," he said. "The mayor is the leader of the city, and that person should be chosen by the citizens."

Kinson agreed, but said there's no flexibility in the charter.

City Attorney Cliff Shepard said a charter change requires a referendum.

Bonus said he was concerned that if the referendum failed, they would be out of luck.

"I think we should explore it," Schieferdecker said.