The Selma City Council will lose another council member in mid-January when Dr. Monica Newton of Ward 3 leaves the city.

Newton, who is serving her first term of office, said she and her husband, Dr. Wylie Newton, would wind up their medical practices here and head to Atlanta in January to take care of family.

“It’s with regret we have to being the process of unfolding a medical practice and commitment to a community I love,” Newton said during a council work session Monday.

Now the council is faced with filling another vacated seat, either by election or appointment.

Tommy Atchison sat in his first official work session as a councilman. Atchison was elected nearly two weeks ago to fill the seat held by Cecil Williamson, who as president pro-tem ascended to the president’s chair after the death of Geraldine Allen, who was elected at-large nearly two years ago.

“I couldn’t support an appointment after being elected,” Atchison said. “I just think that’s the right thing to do.”

The election that saw Atchison fill the Ward 1 seat was not without controversy. Some council members, such as Bennie Ruth Crenshaw of Ward 7, wanted to appoint a council member.

Alabama law says the council can appoint a representative to fill the open seat for the remainder of the term. The law goes on to say if the council cannot agree on an appointee or does not make an appointment within 60 days, a special election is in order.

Williamson said the council would have to make up its mind.

“I believe we pretty much need an election,” he said.