A lack of competition for the four seats on the Sterling City Council this November prompted the council to cancel the election during a special meeting Tuesday.

In Wards 1 and 3 as well as the mayoral race, there was only one person who turned in a completed petition for each respective seat. Those individuals will be seated after the Nov. 2 election; the council agreed Tuesday to delay the swearing in until their Nov. 23 meeting, as Brenda Desormeaux, who will be Sterling's next mayor, will not be able to attend the Nov. 9 meeting. Luke Janes will retain his seat in Ward 3, and Martin Gaines will fill the Ward 1 seat held by Bob McCarty, who is term-limited.

There were no candidates for the Ward 2 vacancy, which Desormeaux now holds. Retiring City Manager Don Saling, whose last day was Tuesday, explained that the council will have 60 days to fill the vacant seat by appointment; otherwise they will have to hold a special election.