In the event of a vacancy in the office of warden or in the absence or incapacity of the warden, the ward clerk may perform the duties of the warden. A vacancy in the office of ward clerk may be filled by an election clerk appointed by the warden. When a ward clerk is elected in a partisan election, an election clerk appointed by the warden must be enrolled in the same political party as the ward clerk and shall serve as ward clerk pro tem.   [PL 1997, c. 436, §66 (AMD).]