FAIRHOPE, Alabama - The Fairhope City Council voted 3-2 at a 6 p.m. meeting Monday to reschedule the municipal election for mayor and City Council  to Sept. 11. 

The council's action came at the third council meeting of the day to consider what to do about today's scheduled election in light of the latest news about possible impacts from Tropical Storm Isaac. 

Although Gov. Robert Bentley modified on Monday his Sunday mandatory evacuation order for all of Fairhope west of Greeno Road to include only low-lying areas, some council members said his earlier order, as well as the closure of public schools for the first three days of the week, may have resulted in some voters already leaving town. To hold the election after his order was given, even though later modified, could have resulted in those voters missing out on their opportunity to participate in the election, they said.

Councilman Mike Ford and Councilman Rick Kingrea argued that the election should have taken place today and voted against the Sept. 11 date, as well as the vote taken at 3 p.m. to cancel today's scheduled election. Mayor Tim Kant also said at last night's council meeting that he wished today's scheduled election could have gone forward.

At the first council of the day yesterday at 8:30 a.m., the council voted to reconvene at 3 p.m. to hear what the governor had decided about the mandatory evacuation order during a 10:30 a.m. news conference in Mobile, which was attended by Kant, city staff and other mayors from around Baldwin County, local officials said. 

The new election date is expected to generate a renewed intensity of campaign activity during the next two weeks in already hotly contested races for mayor and all five council seats.

For continuing coverage of the municipal election and impacts from Tropical Storm Isaac visit GulfCoastNewsToday.com for updates, and follow The Fairhope Courier on Twitter @fairhopenews.

Editor's Note: The Fairhope Courier is seeking photos and first-hand notes of your observations about impacts of Isaac on Fairhope and vicinity. Send those photos and notes to courier@gulfcoastnewspapers.com, with where taken, of what, and by whom. Short articles about the storm's impact and/or your reflections on the experience are welcome (include your name and a way to contact you).