Published: June 19, 2009 07:16 pm         

Two candidates vying to be new Sullivan mayor

SULLIVAN — The business of finding a new mayor for the town of Sullivan is moving forward.

As of Thursday afternoon, two people had thrown their hats in the ring by submitting resumes to Sullivan County Democratic Party chairwoman Lynn Hamilton.

Former mayor Scott Biddle, a Democrat, resigned from the mayor’s post earlier this month for personal reasons. Sullivan City Council President Debbie Ayers is acting as mayor until local Democratic Party officials name a new mayor Friday.

Anyone interested in being named mayor needs to contact Hamilton by 6 p.m. Tuesday, the local party leader said. The town’s four Democratic Party precinct committeemen will meet at 6 p.m. Friday to select a new mayor, Hamilton noted.

“We should know by 6:30 next Friday night who the new mayor will be,” Hamilton said.

Georgia Boles and Shannon Orman are the two Sullivan residents who have submitted their names so far, Hamilton said. Interested candidates must live within the town’s limits, she added.

The job of Sullivan mayor pays $17,000 per year, Hamilton noted.

Party leaders will meet at the Sullivan east side firehouse to select a new mayor. If the vote is a tie, Hamilton will cast the deciding vote, she said.