McDonald resigns as St. Anthony mayor, effective July 31

ST. ANTHONY, N.L. — Desmond McDonald is stepping down as mayor of St. Anthony.
The town council accepted his letter of resignation during a special meeting held on July 23.
McDonald's resignation will be effective as of July 31, at which point Deputy Mayor Krista Howell will act as mayor on an interim basis.
The town council will then have to decide the process of selecting a new mayor.
Per the Municipalities Act, council has three options at its disposal. 
The town can either: a) have the deputy mayor assume the office of mayor for the remainder of McDonald's term; b) have the deputy mayor assume the office of mayor until a by-election is held to fill the vacant position of mayor; or c) elect, by secret ballot, from among the remaining members of council, a person to assume the office of mayor for the remainder of the originally elected mayor's term.
McDonald was serving his first term as mayor, having been elected during the last round of municipal elections in the fall of 2017. He previously served on council since February 2016. 
McDonald declined to make a comment to The Northern Pen on the decision.