Whenever any vacancy shall happen in the office of Mayor, on account of death, resignation, removal from the limits of the city, or for any other cause, when the unexpired term shall be 1 year or over from the date of the vacancy, it shall be filled by an election, and the Clerk shall give notice of such election as required by law governing special elections; if such vacancy is less than 1 year, the Council shall elect 1 of its number to act as Mayor, who shall possess all the rights and powers of the Mayor until the next annual election, and until the successor is elected and qualified.
(1963 Code, § 1-6-3)