HOSCHTON — Tom Walden’s old seat on the Hoschton City Council will not go unfilled in 2010, now that one Hoschton resident tossed his hat into the ring.

Scott Butler qualified during the special qualifying period, which took place Tuesday through Thursday at City Hall, and will be on the ballot in November.

Walden, who also served as the chairman of the city’s fiscal resources committee, resigned from his City Council seat at the close of the Sept. 14 council meeting, citing personal reasons for his sudden departure.

"Due to some recent concerns about my health and family relationships, I’ve decided that I can no longer devote the time or energy that I consider necessary to be a city councilman for the city of Hoschton," he said at the meeting.

The rest of the council approved his resignation request and also approved a special qualifying period to fill the post.

Walden’s seat will not be the only seat on the City Council up for election this year. The mayor and City Council posts 1, 2 and 3 also will be voted on in November.

Mayor Bill Copenhaver is not running for re-election.

Hoschton residents Robbie Bettis, Jim Keinard and Erma Denney are all vying for the position.

Richard Green currently holds the Post 1 seat but is not seeking re-election. Sandie Romer has qualified for the post.

Similarly, Jim Jester’s Post 2 seat and John Schulte’s Post 3 seat are up for election; Hoschton residents Jim Higginbottom and Jim Cleveland qualified for the Post 2 and 3 seats, respectively.