Crosby Resigning as Mayor of Kingsland Effective Dec. 31

KINGSLAND - Kingsland Mayor Sharon Crosby is serving her last day as mayor today (Tuesday, Dec. 31) after the Kingsland City Council reluctantly accepted her letter of resignation during its regular monthly meeting on Dec. 19."I love working with all of you," Crosby told the city council before submitting the letter. "I couldn't ask for better people - no arguing, no fussing, no confusion… That part I'll miss, but I won't miss the job." After she read her letter, it took a few moments before council member Sandra Laws finally made a motion to accept it. The council unanimously accepted it.Crosby was selected by the Kingsland City Council to replace former mayor Luke Neal, who resigned on Aug. 15, 2022. She was a sitting city council member at the time, having served about nine years on the council over two tenures.Initially, Crosby was appointed to complete Neal's unexpired term, which ended on Dec. 31, 2022. However, since no one ran for mayor during the 2022 election, Crosby agreed to be reappointed to the mayor's new four-year term that began on Jan. 1, 2023. That term will expires Dec. 31, 2026.Crosby tried to resign as mayor during the city council's March meeting earlier this year. She submitted a letter during that meeting stating she would be stepping down on April 30.However, about a week later, she rescinded her resignation after learning that state law requires the city to hold a special election to replace her and she did not want to put the city through the expense of an election.Arkansas Code 14, subsection 14-43-401, states "In case of the mayor's death, disability, resignation, or other vacation of his or her office, the city council, by vote of a majority of all its members, may appoint some other person to act until the expiration of his or her term or disability if the unexpired term of his or her office is less than one (1) year. Otherwise, an election shall be ordered in accordance with the laws of t...