Several people have asked me what John Kuempel’s status is. Sometimes the winner of a special election simply serves out the remainder of an unexpired term. However, the election code provides that if the vacancy occurs after the general election, as was the case here, then the winner of the special election serves the full term as well as the unexpired term. Mr. Kuempel will finish his father’s term and take his seat on January 11, with seniority based on December 14, 2010.