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In an unexpected turn of events, the Cowan City Council has appointed Richard Hunt as the town’s new mayor.

Hunt got the nod Tuesday following the council accepting Mark Ledbetter’s resignation letter.

Ledbetter submitted the letter on June 2, citing that he was stepping down for health reasons, and the council took official action on the issue Tuesday by voting to accept it.

Anthony Ingle, who was filling the mayor’s vacancy on Tuesday, told the council and the audience that even though he would be next in line to succeed Ledbetter because of being vice mayor, the council was free to select someone else.

Councilwoman Kim Shelton nominated fellow Councilman Hunt for the mayor’s position. No other nominations were made, and the council then approved Hunt as the new mayor.

He will be filling the remainder of Ledbetter’s term which expires in 2025.

Ingle said later he had mixed feelings about the outcome.

He explained his term expires in August, and he is not seeking re-election because of the time commitment to serve on the council. He added that he has children involved in youth sports and has had to miss events that were extremely important to his family.

However, he said that if the council would have selected him to fill the vacancy, he would have willingly done so because of his desire to have the city move forward in a positive direction.

Hunt said he welcomes the opportunity to serve as mayor.

“I feel honored and humbled because we have such a great place to live here and have such a great City Council,” he said. “I hope I can live up to those standards.”

Shelton said she believes Hunt will be fully dedicated to serving as mayor.

“He loves the city of Cowan just like I do,” she said. “He will do an excellent job.”

In addition to Hunt being selected as mayor, the council appointed former Councilman Price Tucker to fill the council vacancy created by Hunt’s promotion.

Ledbetter aired his stance for stepping down in the resignation letter.

 “I find that I must resign from the office of mayor due to health reasons,” he said. “I thank the council for the time that we have had to work together and the citizens for the time you have allowed me to serve.”

He was not specific about what the medical conditions are that he is facing.