Randy McDonald announced his resignation as alderman for the Town of Petersburg effective June 2, 2026, saying he looks forward to seeing everyone on the non-political side of life and at Petersburg’s many community events.

“Serving as your alderman has been both a pleasure and privilege,” McDonald said in his letter to the Petersburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen and submitted to The Times. “It has been my honor to care for our community and to help share the spirit of Petersburg with others as your public servant. Now, the call of private life beckons and I hereby announce my resignation as alderman.”

McDonald said his time serving on the BOMA “has been an incredible journey. I have truly enjoyed public service and the many hours spent each day serving and sharing in the life of our town. Having first served as alderman, then as mayor, and later returning to serve as alderman has been a tremendous blessing.” He said he has been honored to hear the thoughts and stories of the citizens of Petersburg.

McDonald was appointed to the BOMA to fill a vacant seat on June 2, 2020, and was elected to a four-year term in August 2022. He was selected as the mayor of Petersburg in March 2023, following the resignation of former Mayor David Thompson on Feb. 7, 2023. After the Aug. 1, 2024 election, the aldermen elected Shantel Gatlin as mayor, at which time McDonald was again seated as an alderman.

Just two months before the Aug. 6 election, McDonald’s resignation leaves a vacancy on the board. The BOMA can fill the vacancy until the election.

According to Section 9 of the Town Charter, Board Vacancies, “The board of mayor and aldermen of the Town of Petersburg shall have the power to fill any and all vacancies occurring in the board for the remainder of the unexpired term whether the vacancies occur on account of death, change of residency, removal, resignation, or other cause, even if the vacancies cause the town a lack of a quorum. When there is a lack of a quorum due to vacancies, any vacancy filled must be by a majority vote of the members present.”

No one qualified to be on the Aug. 6 ballot for the two open, four-year term aldermen positions. Logan Jolly, a former alderman and mayor, was appointed to the board last year when Vice Mayor Charles Talley resigned. Jolly did not meet the March 10 qualifying deadline to be on the Aug. 6 ballot.

Last week, Petersburg resident Edward Troy Castile filed with Marshall and Lincoln counties as a write-in candidate. Grant Smith also filed as a write-in candidate with Marshall County. As of press deadline, he had not filed in Lincoln County. The town lies partly within Lincoln County and partly within Marshall County.

The write-in deadline is noon, Wednesday, June 17, with the write-in withdrawal deadline on Saturday, Aug. 1. Early voting starts on Friday, July 17, 2026, and closes on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026.

According to Shelia Allen, administrator of election with the Lincoln County Election Commission, the names of write-in candidates will not be listed on the Aug. 6 ballot. She also said on the day of the election, poll workers can not tell registered voters who the write-in candidates are in any office.

Deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 6 state primary, county general and Town of Petersburg Aldermen election is Tuesday, July 7, 2026.