LAKE DALLAS — Mayor Pro Tem Karl Hammond has announced that he intends to run for mayor in November.

Fellow council member Tony Martino has previously announced his intention to run for mayor, according to City Secretary Beverly Weikum.

Hammond made the announcement as he presided over the City Council's regular meeting Thursday night.

The special-call election will be held during the general election Nov. 4. The winner will serve the balance of former Mayor Marjory Johnson's unfinished term, through May 2010.

To date, no other residents have indicated an interest in the post, which Johnson left vacant when she resigned and moved to Sanger earlier this month. But the filing period to apply for a place on the ballot does not begin until July 27.

The filing period ends with a 5 p.m. deadline on Aug. 29.

During Thursday's meeting, the council voted Carol Ann Connors as deputy mayor pro tem. While the city doesn't typically name a deputy mayor pro tem, council members felt it was important to have an alternate person able to preside over meetings.

"In case I get sick or get caught in traffic," Hammond said.

Connors asked for confirmation that if for some reason Hammond was no longer pro tem, that she would succeed him as mayor pro tem.

"So we wouldn't have to go through this again," Connors said, referring to the need to call for a future agenda item and a vote.

Berner confirmed that the deputy mayor pro tem would succeed in that case.

PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881. Her e-mail address is pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com .