Oakwood won't have to wait until Nov. 8 to decide on a new councilman, as one of two men who qualified in August for Oakwood City Council Post 3 has withdrawn.

Todd Wilson will succeed incumbent Gary Anderson, who decided not to seek re-election.

The other candidate was Rogers Puckett, but he pulled out of the race, City Clerk Tangee Puckett said Friday.

"Young people need to have a voice in the city," Wilson said, explaining why he decided to run.

Wilson, 39, a service technician for Lawson Air Conditioning & Plumbing, said he grew up in Oakwood and was pleased to see, as an adult returning home, that even though the city had grown, the people and sights were still familiar.

"I want to help retain that small-town feel," he said.

With Puckett as the only candidate, it means the Oakwood won't hold a City Council election of any kind this year, even though three posts are up for grabs.

The other incumbents, Montie Robinson and Martha Collins, both qualified in late August for another four-year term, but they face no opposition.

Anderson, an Oakwood resident for 50 of his 59 years, will wrap up his 14th year on the council Dec. 31.

In an Aug. 31 interview, he said he decided against another term because he believes "it's time for some new blood in Oakwood. It's time for some new ideas."

He said he also might have a job opportunity in another state next year and "I couldn't serve anyway."

The contested race had caught city officials off guard a bit, with City Manager Stan Brown quipping that it might require him to do a little research on election protocol.

Oakwood City Council has remained generally stable, as far as membership, for many years. Robinson, for example, has served on the council and Lamar Scroggs has been mayor since the 1970s.

The South Hall city still will hold an election on Nov. 8, however.

Residents will decide whether to approve Sunday alcohol sales at establishments other than restaurants, such as grocery and convenience stores.

Other cities throughout the state will hold a similar vote, enabled by a law passed by the Georgia legislature earlier this year.