Woolridge Authors New Mayoral Succession Ordinance

Another proposed change to Louisville's mayoral succession law will go before the Metro Council next week.Republican Councilman Kelly Downard introduced legislation last month that would allow the mayor to name a deputy mayor as the official successor if the mayor cannot fulfill his or her duties. Councilwoman Mary Woolridge has authored another resolution that would make the president of the Metro Council interim mayor while the council takes thirty days to appoint a new mayor."We don't want to reinvent the wheel," she says. "I was here when it was the Louisville Board of Alderman and when the mayor was unavailable the president of the Louisville Board of Aldermen was the mayor for a day or a week or however long."Current law does not name an interim mayor, but gives the council thirty days to elect a successor. Any changes to mayoral succession would require the state legislature to amend merger law. The council may make other requests of the General Assembly next year, including changes to term limits for mayors and council members.