Gladstone council appoints planning commission chair Cameron Nave after contested election seat debate

The Gladstone City Council appointed Cameron Nave, chair of the city’s Planning Commission, to fill a vacant council seat until the next regular election after a lengthy public comment period and council discussion about election eligibility and transparency.

Why it matters: The seat became vacant after the April municipal election produced a winner who, the city said, was ineligible to take the oath because of a personal property tax delinquency at the time ballots closed. State law and Gladstone ordinances restrict remedies for that circumstance, so the council must either appoint a replacement to serve until April 2026 or allow the incumbent to remain until a successor is sworn in.

What happened in the meeting - Public comment: Several residents addressed the council during communications from the audience, urging the council to honor the election result and appoint Molly Gibson, who won the most votes in April. Molly Gibson spoke to the council and said, “Over 900 people in this city cast their vote in April, and that vote should mean something.” Other speakers, including…