SPENCER — A Spencer alderman resigned from his position Tuesday, citing difficulties balancing his job duties with public service. His seat will remain vacant until the November elections.

In an email to the Salisbury Post, Reid Walters said he was officially resigning from his position. His current term, like those of all other Spencer aldermen, ends this year. Walters did not run for re-election to the town board this year.

“I intended to serve the rest of this term, however today I resigned from my position,” Walters said in his email.

He said the reasoning for his resignation was related to his professional job duties. Walters is town manager of Bethel, in eastern North Carolina. He was appointed to the position earlier this year.

Walters was elected to the town board in 2009 and has served continuously, winning a spot in every election since then.

The seat left open by Walters’ resignation from the Board of Aldermen will remain vacant until the November elections, the board decided Tuesday.

Board members debated whether to appoint a replacement, but Mayor Pro-Tem Jim Gobbel motioned to accept Walters’ resignation and leave the seat vacant as only two meetings meetings remain until elections. The motion passed 3-2 with aldermen Jeff Morris and Mike Boone opposing.

One of seven candidates will take Walters’ spot. A total of six positions are up for grabs. Most of the candidates running for Spencer’s town board aren’t incumbents.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.