We are starting to feel a little bit of déjà vu around here. It seems like we were facing a vacancy on the Selma City Council just a few minutes ago and calling on city leadership to fill the opening with a special election.

It wasn’t just a feeling of déjà vu. We were facing a vacancy and they did fill the post with a special election.

On Sept. 28, voters in Ward 1 headed to the polls to fill their ward’s position on the city council. They selected Tommy Atchison, and by doing so, fulfilled their role in a representative government.

Now, the residents of Ward 3 will soon be without representation as their elected official, Dr. Monica Newton, has announced she is moving to Atlanta in mid-January.

Now, it is time for the city council to do the right thing once again and schedule a special election to lead the voters in Ward 3 selected their representative.

But, we have heard they may decide to appoint someone for the rest of Newton’s term which, when filled will have more than a year left.

So we have a question to the city council members and leaders who will ultimately make the decision on whether to appoint an individual or hold a special election.

What makes the residents and voters in Ward 1 any different than those in Ward 3? Why is the argument that a special election is too costly valid today when it wasn’t just a few months ago?

The voters in Ward 3 deserve the right to elect their representative instead of having those elected leaders, who do not live in Ward 3, make a decision for them.

Regardless of all the valid and right reasons for having a special election, there is one simple point that must be stated.

Selma has a special connection to the civil rights movement and the open and fair opportunity for all to the right to vote. It would be a shame if our city leaders would decide such a simple act of voting is too much to go through.