The Scranton city council intends to seek applications for the position of mayor and make an appointment in February to fill the vacancy created by the untimely death of mayor Rod Walker Dec. 17.
The city council held a special meeting Dec. 19 to review the legal steps to fill the position. Mayor pro tem Orvie Umbaugh will fill the position until an appointment is made. Umbaugh has said he is not interested in serving as mayor.
By the Code of Iowa, the city council has 60 days to fill the vacancy.
The appointee will serve until the general election in November 2015.
Scranton voters can call for a special election by submitting a petition to the city clerk signed by at least 15 percent of the number of persons who voted in the last mayoral election. The petition must be submitted within 14 days after the appointment is made.
Walker had served on the Scranton city council since 2003. He was in his second term as mayor.
