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Council appoints Michael Holzapfel to fill Dallas council vacancy
Summary
On May 19 the Dallas City Council appointed Michael Holzapfel to a vacant council seat after written ballots gave him five of seven votes; four candidates spoke before the vote and the appointee was sworn in immediately.
On May 19 the Dallas City Council voted to appoint Michael Holzapfel to fill a vacant city council seat, selecting him by written ballot after Holzapfel received five of the seven votes cast by the council members present.
The appointment fills a seat left open on the eight-member council; the council’s rules and the city charter require a majority of the remaining members to approve an appointee, which in this case meant five affirmative votes. The council conducted interviews with the four applicants earlier in the meeting and then distributed written ballots to the members present.
All four applicants delivered five-minute presentations before the vote. Kirsten Collins, a former city councilor, told the council that “local government should reflect our community” and urged transparency in explaining how the council chooses an appointee. Tyler Lonsford, a local primary care provider, and Holly Williamson, a long-time volunteer and budget committee member, also spoke about their ties to Dallas and interest in serving. Candidate Michael Holzapfel described his military service and long career in Polk County law enforcement and said he sought the position to lend that experience to the council.
After ballots were collected and read aloud by name, the tally showed five votes for Holzapfel and two votes for Williamson. Per the council’s procedure, that constituted a majority of the remaining members and resulted in Holzapfel’s appointment. City Recorder Kim Herring administered the oath of office to Holzapfel at the meeting.
Public comment earlier in the meeting included remarks about representation and community engagement. Liana Dieters, speaking during public comment, said she did not feel heard in the community; other speakers thanked the council for its work. Council members thanked all four applicants and encouraged them to remain involved in civic life.
The council’s packet showed the city received four applications for the vacancy and that each met the requirements to serve. City staff explained the appointment process at the start of the item and reminded the council that if no applicant received the required majority on the first ballot a second ballot would be used containing the two applicants with the most votes from the first round.
The council adjourned after completing the evening’s business.
