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Council appoints Robert Spivey to fill Dallas council vacancy
Summary
After four candidates spoke, the Dallas City Council appointed Robert Spivey to the vacant council seat by a 7-1 ballot vote; he was sworn in at the meeting.
The Dallas City Council appointed Robert Spivey to the vacant council seat at its Jan. 25 meeting after a series of three-minute presentations from four candidates and a secret-ballot process that was read aloud when tallied.
Staff member explained the appointment process at the start of the item, saying the council would accept applications, hold three-minute candidate presentations and then vote by ballot; if no candidate received five votes, the lowest vote-getter would be eliminated and rounds would continue. "In the event that the first ballot results in one of the four candidates receiving five or more votes, that person is therefore then appointed to the Dallas City Council, will be sworn in, and will take their seat here at the dais," the staff member said.
Nancy Adams, who said she recently completed a two-year appointment on the City Council, presented her experience with economic development, the budget committee and council discussions on the dam expansion, police facility and housing land supply. Robert Spivey, who described his background in human resources and his interest in collaborative decision-making, also spoke as a candidate. Kirsten Collins delivered a public statement urging the council to appoint Adams, arguing the seat should have been filled by a candidate who had been considered by voters; other members of the public urged either new or experienced representation.
After the presentations the council cast secret ballots that were opened and read aloud. The tally was read by staff: "So that is, 7 votes for Robert Spivey, 1 for Nancy Adams. So Robert Spivey is our new city councilor." The council then administered the oath of office; Kim Herring, City Recorder, led the oath and Robert Spivey repeated it.
Why it matters: The appointment fills a seat the council declared vacant on Jan. 6. Council procedures for filling the vacancy were set by staff and followed at the meeting; the matching of candidates' presentations and a transparent readout of ballots was part of the process.
Following his swearing-in, the council moved on to the rest of its agenda.
