With Henry Bousquet retiring from the New Bedford City Council last Friday, the Ward 3 seat is currently vacant. City Council President Joe Lopes told WBSM's Barry Richard today that there will be a special election to fill the seat.

Because the next election isn't scheduled until October, there will need to be a special election, per council rules. If the election had been scheduled within six months of Bousquet stepping down, the council could have appointed someone to fill the seat, which would have been the next highest vote-getter in the last election--although, because Bousquet had no challenger, the council could have chosen a replacement.

But because the election is more than six months away, a special election is required.

Lopes said Election Commissioner Maria Tomasia is working on a schedule for the special election, and something should be made public by mid-week. Tomasia has previously stated a special election will cost the city between $16,000-$18,000.

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