AUBURN – Speed is of the essence for finding a new Ward 4 city councilor to replace state Rep.-Elect Bruce Bickford, councilors said Monday.

“We just have a lot of big decisions to make, and I want to be sure that Ward 4 is represented,” said Councilor Dan Herrick of Ward 3.

Bickford, a Republican, won election to House District 70 this month by defeating Democrat Penthea Burns of Lewiston. But Auburn’s charter, adopted by voters in 2005, doesn’t let councilors hold any other elected public office during their council term.

On Monday Bickford tendered his resignation from the City Council effective Dec. 3. That’s the day he’s scheduled to be officially sworn in as a representative.

City staff had asked for at least 75 business days to work on the election to find his replacement, hoping to schedule the vote in February.

City Manager Glenn Aho said candidates need 30 days to obtain signatures for a nominating petition and 30 days to campaign. The City Clerk’s office also needs at least 15 days to take care of administrative work pertaining to the election.

But councilors opted for a faster timeline, scheduling the vote for Jan. 13.

“Last time, Ward 4 wasn’t even contested,” Herrick said. “They don’t need 30 days to go gather signatures. (City Clerk Mary Lou Magno) will tell you they really only need one day. And I don’t think they need 30 days to campaign.”

Magno said nominating petitions for Bickford’s seat would be available Tuesday and must be returned to her office by Dec. 11. Candidates need to gather at least 25 signatures from registered Ward 4 voters.

Bickford was first elected to the City Council in 2006, replacing Donna Lyons Rowell. His successor will serve the remaining nine months in his term and will be up for election again in November 2009, along with the rest of the Auburn City Council and Mayor John Jenkins.