MARION COUNTY — At the request of attorneys for the City of Centralia, a Marion County case in the 2019 mayoral election has been continued until October.

The continuation was requested Tuesday and postpones a September 25th hearing on a motion for summary judgment in the case of Centralia mayor-elect Bryan Kuder – just as nominating petitions are being circulated for the election to fill the seat taken from him last year.

Kuder’s attorneys earlier filed a motion in Marion County Court 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 Herb Williams.

Kuder won the election in April 2019 but 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 then appointed 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.

The judge in the case is now scheduled to hear Kuder’s motion for summary judgment in the case on October 9. Nominating petitions for the April election to fill the remaining two years on the mayor’s seat are due November 16.

Kuder has previously indicated he will circulate petitions for the unexpired term on the mayor’s seat if the judge has not ruled in his favor.