MARION COUNTY — A December 11 hearing date has been scheduled in the Marion County case set to decide the outcome of the 2019 Centralia mayoral race – weeks after nominating petitions are due in the upcoming April race.

In July, attorneys for Mayor-Elect Bryan Kuder sought summary judgment in their client’s favor but the case has been continued multiple times without action being taken.

Kuder was elected in April 2019 by a majority of voters to serve as Centralia Mayor.

But his victory was vacated by the Centralia City Council after then-city manager Dan Ramey brought information to the City Council claiming Kuder was ineligible to serve as he did not live within the city limits.

Despite Kuder providing proof of living in an apartment within the city limits, the city council chose to vacate Kuder’s election and later appointed Herb Williams to serve as mayor.

In May, Kuder filed a suit in Marion County Court seeking a judgment declaring him the duly elected and qualified Mayor of Centralia.

Summary judgment in the case would place Kuder in the Mayor’s seat not only weeks after nominating petitions are due for the April race to fill the seat currently held by Williams but also weeks after the November 3 election in which Doug Gruenke, the attorney for the City of Centralia, is running for Clinton County State’s Attorney.

Nominating petitions for the April election to fill the remaining two years on the mayor’s seat are due November 16.

Centralia City Clerk Kim Enke confirms Kuder has pulled nominating petitions to again seek election to the mayor’s seat.

He previously indicated he would again seek election to the unexpired term on the mayor’s seat if the judge does not rule in his favor.