Smiths Station City Council expected to appoint new mayor November 10 following Richard Cooley’s death
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- Smiths Station City Council will appoint new mayor November 10 following Mayor Richard Cooley's death October 24.
- Council Chair Pro Tempore Victoria Green serves interim mayor; successor selected from council or outside through November 2029.
The City of Smiths Station has outlined the process for filling the vacant mayoral position following the death of Mayor Richard Cooley, who passed away Saturday, October 24, 2026.
In a public announcement, city officials said the office of Mayor is now officially vacant under Alabama law, prompting the City Council to begin the process of selecting a successor.
Under Alabama law, the City Council is responsible for selecting a successor to serve the remainder of the mayoral term, which runs through November 2029. The successor may be appointed from among the current City Council members or from outside the council.
Until a successor is selected, Council Chair Pro Tempore Victoria Green will exercise the functions of the mayor’s office.
The City Council formally acknowledged the vacancy during its October 27 meeting and expects to select a new mayor during its upcoming regular meeting on Tuesday, November 10, at 6 p.m.
The meeting will take place at Smiths Station City Hall and is open to the public.
City officials also explained that if a current council member is selected to serve as mayor, the resulting vacancy on the City Council will be filled at a subsequent meeting in accordance with Alabama Code § 11-44G-1.
The upcoming November 10 meeting will be an important step in determining who will lead the City of Smiths Station through the remainder of the current mayoral term following Cooley’s passing.
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