In a move that caught many by surprise, Peachtree City Councilwoman Judi-ann Rutherford announced last week that she was resigning as of July 31.

Rutherford told The Citizen that she is moving to Holland to be with her husband, who relocated there nine months ago for his job.

Her term was due to expire at the end of this year. City law states that the City Council can appoint a replacement, and applicants for that position will be accepted for one week after the position is declared vacant. The position must be declared vacant by the mayor within five days of the vacancy occurring, the ordinance states.

The applicants will be interviewed by council at a public meeting, although council will set guidelines to determine the format and length of time each candidate will receive.

Rutherford made the announcement at the end of Thursday’s City Council meeting.

“It’s been three and a half years since I’ve been here, and city staff has worked hard so I want to thank you for that,” Rutherford said.

Rutherford’s last vote was against a bid to study possible salary increases for city council members, although she did not strongly oppose the measure during discussion prior to the vote.

After her announcement, Councilman Stuart Kourajian thanked Rutherford for her service, and the small crowd of citizens who stayed right up to the 11 p.m.-ish end of the meeting broke out in a standing ovation in appreciation of Rutherford.

During the break after the open session before council convened in executive session, Rutherford wiped a few tears from her eyes. Judging by the reaction from her fellow council members, Rutherford kept a pretty good secret: it appeared that all four were caught by surprise.

Minutes later, when someone asked what the process would be to fill Rutherford’s seat, which is up for grabs in the November election, City Manager Bernie McMullen said he was too stunned to be able to recall the process off the top of his head.

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