MARION COUNTY — Over the objection of Centralia City Attorneys Doug Gruenke and Luke Behme, an emergency motion for a temporary injunction has been granted to Centralia Mayor-Elect Bryan Kuder, effectively halting the Centralia City Council from appointing a mayor pro-tem before a ruling is handed down in his case.

Judge Jeff Delong on Friday granted the preliminary injunction and scheduled the matter for further action at 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 17, four days after the city council planned to appoint a mayor pro-tem to replace outgoing Mayor Tom Ashby who will wrap up his term Monday.

Kuder’s attorney’s M. Lane Harvey and Nicole Villani, presented their arguments at a court hearing Friday, while Gruenke and Behme made their arguments for the City.

Kuder claims in his court case that he was a qualified elector, lived in the city one year prior to the election, and that he had obtained the majority of votes in the election.

Kuder says he lived at his old home on Circle Drive until April 1st, and while he had a lease from his apartment on West Broadway on March 1st, due to water damage he could not occupy it until April 9th when he moved in.

The City says that Kuder had signed a tax form and mortgage documents stating a home he bought outside the city limits would be his primary residence. Three of the four current council members voted last month to toss Kuder’s election and instead appoint a mayor pro-tem until the next municipal election in 2021.