(Photo courtesy of the city of Mesa)

Fomer Mesa Mayor Scott Smith.

The Valley’s second-largest city made an official change in leadership Wednesday. Mesa will hold an election this summer to replace outgoing mayor Scott Smith.

Smith, a Republican, made the announcement in January that he would resign his mayoral office to run for governor. He was in the middle of his second term when he made the decision to seek the state’s top elected spot.

Vice Mayor Alex Finter began taking over as Mesa’s mayor earlier this month as Smith’s official duties wound down.  A former two-term city councilman, Finter was named vice mayor in 2013.

The official vacancy means candidates looking to replace Smith must file initial documents with the city clerk’s office by April 28. Nomination papers must be filed by the end of May.

The Primary Election will be held on Aug. 26. If no clear winner is chosen, voters will have to make up their minds in a general election in November.