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Fifth Ward councilman Colin Welch resigns effective Jan. 7; city to accept letters of interest for replacement
Summary
Councilman Colin Welch resigned his Fifth Ward seat effective Jan. 7, 2025. The City will accept letters of interest, verify eligibility, publish notices and interview candidates before appointing a replacement to serve until the next election.
Hannibal — Councilman Colin Welch resigned his Fifth Ward seat effective Jan. 7, 2025, the mayor announced at the Jan. 7 City Council meeting. The council described the process the city will follow to fill the vacancy: accept letters of interest from qualified residents of the Fifth Ward, verify eligibility, invite candidates to interview before the council and then select an appointee to serve until the next municipal election.
Mayor Lotterman told the council he had spoken with Welch earlier in the day and received the resignation by text shortly before the meeting. "Colin Welch has resigned the fifth ward council seat as of 01/07/2025," the mayor said.
The mayor said the city will place notice of the vacancy on the city's social-media accounts and in the local newspaper twice, 10 days apart, and will set a date for interviews. Council members will choose a replacement to fill the seat until the 2026 election, when the seat would normally be up for election.
Why it matters: The Fifth Ward seat provides representation for residents of that ward; filling it promptly ensures full council representation for upcoming business.
Next steps: The City Clerk will accept letters of interest that meet the eligibility criteria; staff will post instructions online and in the newspaper and schedule interviews at a future council meeting.
Ending: No motion to accept the resignation was required; council members discussed logistics for the vacancy process and directed staff to publish notices and gather letters of interest.
