The next elected representative of Ward 1 in the City of Missoula will start their term roughly two months early after the Missoula City Council approved a vacancy plan for the seat Monday night.

The plan suspends the normal rules for appointing a replacement, which requires the council to appoint someone within 30 days. Instead, council will wait to allow the results of the upcoming November election to decide who will fill the vacancy.

The seat was vacated by former Ward 1 Councilor Jennifer Savage, who filed to run in Ward 3 this fall and was required by state law to vacate the Ward 1 seat by Sept. 4 , or 60 days before the general election.

The council voted 8-1 to approve the measure, with Councilor Bob Campbell in sole opposition, although other councilors expressed frustration

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