AUBURN — Former City Councilor Adam R. Lee has submitted nomination papers for the Ward 4 City Council seat recently vacated by Ernestine “Tina” Gilbert. 

A special election will be held June 13, which will coincide with the city’s annual school budget validation referendum. 

Lee, 37, submitted the necessary signatures last week, just days after nomination papers became available at Auburn Hall. The 25 required signatures from the ward have since been verified. 

Gilbert announced her resignation Dec. 19, saying that she would be moving from her home in the Ward 4 district, requiring her to forfeit her seat. 

The city charter requires a mayor or councilor to forfeit office if the person “lacks at any time during the term of office any qualifications for the office prescribed by this Charter or by law, including residency of the ward from which elected.” 

Lee, a lawyer at Trafton, Matzen, Belleau & Frenette, served one term as the Ward 4 councilor from 2013-15. In 2015, he did not seek re-election, and Gilbert was elected to the seat. 

Lee has been heavily involved in the Auburn community. He is a longtime mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Androscoggin County, and has served on the board of directors of the Lewiston Education Fund, volunteered at the Auburn YMCA, and has helped judge and coach the Edward Little High School speech and debate team.

In a campaign social media post last week, Lee called his recent discussions with Ward 4 residents while collecting signatures “enlightening and uplifting.” During a previous post, he said he had been urged by several residents to run for the open seat.

“Upon Ernestine’s departure, I decided to run, because given my recent service, I am confident that I will be able to hit the ground running,” he said Tuesday, adding that he’s attended every council meeting since Gilbert’s departure, and will continue.

According to Auburn City Clerk Susan Clements-Dallaire, all nomination papers must be filed with the City Clerk’s Office no later than 4:30 p.m. March 30. However, she said, all candidates are asked to file their nomination papers early to provide sufficient time to obtain additional signatures if necessary.

The Ward 4 term expires in December 2017, making it a quick turnaround for anyone elected to the seat.

The June 13 special election would be for Ward 4 voters only. The ward includes the neighborhoods of Fairview and Sherwood Heights elementary schools. Lee lives at 46 Garden Circle. 

As of Monday, no one else had taken out nomination papers from Auburn Hall.