Antioch council opts for public appointment process to fill vacant city clerk post

The Antioch City Council voted unanimously Aug. 12 to fill the vacant city clerk post by council appointment following a public application and interview process instead of holding a special election.

City Attorney (staff) explained that because the outgoing clerk’s resignation falls within the first half of the elected term, state election timing makes a special election possible but costly and duplicative. "If you appoint, you would appoint until the next regular election," the City Attorney said, explaining that an appointment would require the appointee to run at the next general election if they wish to retain the office.

Council members debated cost and transparency. Several members said they preferred the appointment route to avoid an immediate special election that consultants estimated could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Council members also said the appointment should be a public, evening process: candidates would submit applications, interviews would be held in public, and the council would vote openly on the selection.

The motion to appoint rather than call a special election passed 5‑0. Staff will publish an application, advertise interview dates, and return to council with a proposed schedule and criteria for the public interview process. The appointee will serve until the next election cycle, at which point the office will be on the ballot.