INDIAN RIVER SHORES — Richard “Dick” Haverland and Tom Cadden have won seats on the Indian River Shores Town Council by default after a last-minute bow-out by a third candidate.
There were three men vying for two seats on the Indian River Shores Town Council when qualifying closed at noon Friday and names had already been drawn to determine the order they would go on the ballot.
But when John’s Island resident Charles Wurmstedt pulled out of the race, it eliminated the need for an election.
It is customary for the Shores to elect its Town Council by not actually voting at the ballot box, but by default.
Retired buisness executive Haverland and former Mayor Cadden will take the oath of office for Shores Town Council in March to serve four-year terms. At an organizational meeting, a new mayor and vice mayor will be chosen among the council members.
Cadden, who previously served eight years and had to sit out a period due to term limits, and newcomer Haverland will fill the seats of outgoing Mayor Bill Kenyon and Councilman William Ahrens, both of John’s Island.
New members will join Councilwoman Fran Atchison, Councilman Gerard Weick and Councilman Mike Ochsner on the dais.
One of the biggest issues facing the new Shores Town Council will be the decision of who to purchase water and sewer services from for the next, at least, 30 years. Both Indian River County and the current provider the City of Vero Beach are interested in having the Shores as customers.
Cadden, who was appointed to be the Town’s liaison on utility issues since he came off the council in 2009, has been embroiled in the controversy over hiring GAI Consultants for $25,000 to represent the Town in the franchise analysis and negotiations. It was later found out that GAI was also working for the City of Vero Beach on the same project for $85,000.
The existing Shores Town Council meets Thursday, Jan. 27 at 3:30 p.m. and should meet once more in February before the new council members take office.