AUBURN – Bruce Bickford said he’ll tender his resignation to his City Council colleagues Monday, effective the day he is sworn in as a state legislator.

“That’s the way it’s written in the City Charter, and I have to go by what the charter says,” Bickford said. “Until then, I’ll finish up with my city duties.”

The Republican won election to House District 70 last week by defeating Democrat Penthea Burns of Lewiston, 54 percent to 46 percent.

The district includes parts of Auburn and Lewiston and had been represented by Democrat Mark Samson, who did not seek re-election.

He’s scheduled to be officially sworn in as a representative on Dec. 3.

But Auburn’s charter, adopted by voters in 2005, doesn’t let councilors hold any other elected public office during their council term.

According to a memo from City Manager Glenn Aho, the city will have to schedule a special election to fill Bickford’s Ward 4 job.

“If that’s what the charter says, that’s what the people want,” Bickford said. “I understood this going in, and I knew this was possible.”