(a) Vacancies. In the event the office of any member of Council shall become vacant for any cause or reason, Council shall, by a majority vote of the remaining members elected thereto, choose his successor. In the event that Council fails to elect such a successor on or before the expiration of thirty (30) days after such vacancy shall have occurred, Council shall be divested of its power to appoint his successor and the Mayor shall appoint a successor. Such successor, whether elected by Council or appointed by the Mayor, shall serve for the unexpired term or until the beginning of the term of a successor duly elected as hereinafter provided.
(b) Election of Successor in the Event of Vacancy, hi the event the office of any member of Council shall become vacant, a successor for the unexpired term shall be elected to the office at a special election to be held on the day of the next general Municipal election, provided that: (1) such election shall occur more than two (2) years prior to the expiration of the unexpired term, and (2) the vacancy shall have occurred more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to such election. A member of Council who was elected or appointed according to subsection (a) of this section, may be a candidate to succeed himself.