CENTRALIA, IL — The City of Centralia has again sought a continuance in a case that will decide the outcome of the 2019 Centralia mayoral election.

A new date has not yet been issued for the hearing that had been scheduled for Friday afternoon, in which attorneys for Mayor-Elect Bryan Kuder have sought summary judgment in their client’s favor.

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 voted to vacate Kuder’s election and later appointed Herb Williams to serve as mayor.

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

Kuder’s attorneys earlier filed the motion seeking summary judgment in their client’s favor – a ruling that would place Kuder in the Mayor’s seat just weeks before nominating petitions are due for the Centralia mayor’s seat currently held by Williams. But the City has sought the continuation of the hearing multiple times.

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.