Nov. 3 special election to address Norcross City Council vacancy

The Norcross City Council officially called for a Nov. 3 special election to fill the vacancy left by the late Marshall Cheek.

The Norcross community and city officials are still mourning the loss of Cheek, who died in mid-June. In early August, Council Member Josh Bare quoted one of his frequent sayings — “We can walk and chew gum at the same time.”

Rescheduled meetings and a quorum

Norcross Mayor Craig Newton said it’s been difficult for the council to make a quorum, requiring at least four of six voting members, since losing Cheek in early summer.

“Everybody has busy schedules,” Newton said. “With Marshall being a part of the council, it was easier to schedule … With work schedules and everything involved in being a family member and being a council member, it makes it tough.”

City officials rescheduled the July 20 policy work session for Aug. 3 and moved the regular meeting, previously scheduled for the first Monday of August, to Aug. 10. This month’s regularly scheduled policy work session was also moved back a week to Aug. 24.

The Norcross City Council has a mayor and five members, who are elected at-large and serve four-year terms, which are staggered. Mayor Craig Newton and council members Matt Myers and Bruce Gaynor have terms expiring in January 2030, setting up elections for those seats in November 2029.

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Council members Josh Bare and Andrew Hixson have terms expiring sooner, in January 2028. Because Cheek’s term would also have expired then, the winner of this November’s election will serve for less than a year before the seat is on the ballot again.

Norcross officials said they’re planning to hand-count paper ballots in the municipal election because they have been unable to get electronic devices from the Gwinnett County Board of Registrations and Elections. One council member said it has happened before and took 12 counts.

Because Cheek’s term is active and the seat is vacant, the winner could be sworn in as soon as election night, according to city officials. A special-called meeting would be necessary to swear in the new council member.

Council election specifics

Candidates may qualify as candidates by filing a notice and paying the required $360 qualifying fee between Sept. 14, and Sept. 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 65 Lawrenceville Street.

City officials encourage eligible Norcross residents to participate in the local election. The deadline to register to vote is Oct, 5. Only registered citizens residing within the Norcross city limits are eligible to vote in the special election.

This fall’s advance voting runs Oct. 13, through Oct. 30, as well as two Saturdays – Oct. 17, and Oct. 24 – from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Norcross City Hall.

Election Day voting will take place on Nov. 3 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the second-floor conference room at Norcross City Hall, 65 Lawrenceville St. If no qualified candidate receives a majority of votes, there will be a runoff in December.

Eligible voters who wish to vote by absentee ballot may request an application by calling 678-421-2035 or by downloading an application from the city website.

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