Annapolis Alderman Elly Tierney’s retirement from the Annapolis City Council starts Sept. 1, according to a letter of resignation provided to the Capital Monday.

Tierney submitted her resignation to the city last week, according to Mitchelle Stephenson, spokesperson for the city.

In May, Tierney announced that she would be retiring from politics to move to Massachusetts with her husband. Tierney, a Ward 1 Democrat, declined further comment on the announcement.

“Elly has been a fierce advocate for Ward 1,” said Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley, a Democrat, in a statement Monday. “She has worked through tough issues on the City Council, including short-term rental licensing, parking, and floodplain management. As Finance Committee Chair, she has helped guide the City’s fiscal oversight over the past three years.”

The city’s charter stipulates that if a member leaves office more than 15 months before their term ends, a special election must be held. If there are fewer than 15 months until the expiration of the term, the seat is filled by the central committee of the departing member’s political party. Tierney’s council term expires in November 2025.

When news of Tierney’s pending retirement spread, some Annapolis Republicans raised questions. “The timing of Tierney’s imminent departure takes a voice away from city residents,” said Janet Katz, chair of the Annapolis Republican Central Committee, in June. Tierney will be leaving the council 14 months before her term expires.

After Sept. 1, the Annapolis Democratic Central Committee will name a replacement to serve until the 2025 election. The Annapolis City Council is currently in recess and is scheduled to reconvene on Sept. 9.

Harry Huntley, treasurer of the Annapolis Democratic Central Committee, resigned from his position Friday and intends to apply to fill the soon-to-be-vacant seat. Huntley has served as a member of the central committee since 2021.

“This was not an easy decision. No part of me is doing this for personal benefit or ego. If that were the case, I would have resigned sooner,” Huntley wrote in a Friday statement. “Excellent cities do not happen by accident but are generated by wise, empathic people sacrificing their limited time to build a better world. I look forward to continuing to walk that path with my fellow Annapolitans, especially if I am lucky enough to step into this new role.”

The process to find a candidate to fill Tierney’s seat begins Sept. 1, the effective date of her resignation, according to Stephenson. The Annapolis Democratic Central Committee will have five business days following a notice from the mayor to schedule and announce a date for a public hearing. That hearing, for those interested in filling the seat, must take place no less than 10 business days and no more than 15 business days from the mayor’s notification.

Candidates seeking to fill the seat must submit a written notice to the central committee no later than five days before the scheduled hearing.

Josh Falk, chair of the Annapolis Democratic Central Committee, said that several people have expressed interest in Tierney’s council seat.