Erie Mayor Andrew Moore has announced that he will resign in November.<\/p>\n
In a Tuesday blog post announcing the decision, Moore said his resignation will go into effect immediately following adoption of the town\u2019s 2027 budget, currently scheduled for Nov. 10.<\/p>\n
Moore cited demands of his professional career, family commitments and a recent health challenge in making the decision.<\/p>\n
Erie\u2019s current mayor pro tem, Brandon Bell, will become mayor immediately after Moore leaves the seat, according to the rules of Erie\u2019s town charter.<\/p>\n
Erie\u2019s town charter establishes council members and the mayor as two distinct offices.<\/p>\n
Bell is term limited in his District 2 council seat and would have left the Town Council in January. But Bell has never served as mayor, and the town charter says he can remain mayor until the next mayoral election \u2014 in this case, November 2028.<\/p>\n
A town announcement Tuesday morning said Bell has indicated that he \u201cwill be able and willing to serve as Mayor when Mayor Moore leaves the role.\u201d<\/p>\n
The deadline to add anything to the Nov. 3 ballot has passed, and the town charter is \u201cclear that this seat will not be put to a Special Election (off-cycle election) and will instead be on the ballot in the next regularly scheduled Mayoral election,\u201d the town announcement adds.<\/p>\n
Bell\u2019s current District 2 council seat will become vacant when he assumes the mayor\u2019s position and will remain empty until a new council member, from November\u2019s ballot, takes office in January 2027.<\/p>\n
The candidates for that District 2 seat, listed on the town\u2019s website last month<\/a>, are Dipak Basnet, Delaney Dreckman and Ben Hemphill.<\/p>\n In his blog, Moore said he will continue to focus on the town\u2019s 2027 budget and other ongoing priorities during the remainder of his service.<\/p>\n \u201cThis has not been an easy decision, but it is grounded in my ability to spend time with my family, effectively serve as Mayor, increased responsibilities at work, and a manageable, yet concerning, health issue,\u201d he wrote. \u201cI simply can no longer do it all without jeopardizing my long-term health and important relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n