WASHINGTON (AP) - The District of Columbia will be taking the first step toward getting a new councilmember.

Continue reading

The D.C. Board of Elections will meet Thursday to certify the results from the Nov. 6 election and certify that an at-large seat on the council is vacant.

The board will also schedule a special election for the vacant seat sometime this spring.

The seat had been held by Phil Mendelson, who won a special election to serve the remainder of Kwame Brown's term as council chairman.

Brown resigned earlier this year after he agreed to plead guilty to bank fraud. Because Mendelson is a Democrat, the Democratic State Committee will appoint an interim councilmember to hold the seat until the special election.

The party chairman, Anita Bonds, is among those seeking the appointment.