current term except that, if the remaining portion of the current term is six months or less on the date of the election, a single election may be held to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the current term and to fill the position for the succeeding term. With respect to a vacancy in the seventh member position, candidates shall be a safety member from a group which is not represented by an incumbent alternate seventh member. With respect to the alternate seventh member position, the candidates shall be limited to the group under Section 31470.2 or 31470.4, or any other eligible safety member in a county if there is no eligible candidate from the groups under Sections 31470.2 and 31470.4 that is not represented by an incumbent seventh board member. The successful candidate shall serve for the duration of the current term.

appoint a replacement alternate member in the same manner as prescribed in Sections 31520.3 and 31520.5 for the initial appointment of an alternate retired member, who shall serve until the expiration of the current term of the current eighth member.