Weeks of speculation came to an end last Wednesday morning as Bob Davis turned in his resignation as mayor of Cedar Bluff.

Last month at a Cedar Bluff Town Council meeting, Davis said he would be forced to step down in the near future, citing some mistakes he had made in the past. He did not elaborate at that time, nor did he elaborate Wednesday morning on his reason for resigning. He told The Herald shortly after 10 a.m., “I am no longer affiliated with the Town of Cedar Bluff.”

Davis was first elected mayor of Cedar Bluff in 1992 and had been re-elected three times.

Councilman Donald Sanders as mayor pro tem already has stepped in as acting mayor until the council can act to fill the vacancy.

If the vacancy is not filled within 60 days, each existing council member may submit a name to the governor for consideration. If the governor then does not make an appointment within 90 days after the vacancy occurs, a special election will be called by the judge of probate to fill the vacancy.

The Town Council discussed the vacancy at a work session Thursday and set another work session for 4 p.m. June 2 and a special meeting for 4 p.m. June 6, at which time they will officially accept Davis’ resignation. They also hope to appoint a new mayor at that time, with the swearing-in taking place at the regular meeting June 13. If one of the current council members becomes mayor, that would create a vacancy on the council for them to fill.

A new mayor must be appointed by July 10 or it will go to the governor.

Sanders said he is interested in the position. The other council members have not made know their intentions so far as being the person named to fill the vacancy.

An employee of Cherokee Electric, Sanders was appointed to the council in 1999. He ran without opposition in 2000, then captured 79 percent of the District 2 vote last August to win re-election.

There are opposing views among council members on which way to proceed. Ethel Sprouse believes one of the current members should be appointed because they all have been elected to their positions.

Billie Jean Burkhalter is in favor of exploring all avenues, including unelected citizens.

Davis was first elected mayor of Cedar Bluff on Oct. 13, 1992, beating Eugene Mann 208 to 141 in a runoff. Early, Davis and Mann had dispatched four others, including incumbent Paul McWhorter III.

In 1996 and again in 2000, Davis ran unopposed. Last year, he handily defeated Linda Pickelsimer with 603 votes to 234 for his challenger