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Guthrie council deadlocks on vacant Ward 1 appointment and vice mayor election; item to be revisited
Summary
The Guthrie City Council recorded tied votes on multiple motions May 20, including two failed attempts to appoint a Ward 1 member and a failed vice mayor election; council members said the stalled votes were procedural and that the appointments will be revisited.
Guthrie City Council failed to fill a vacant Ward 1 seat and did not elect a vice mayor during its May 20 meeting after multiple motions resulted in 3‑3 ties.
Two separate nominations to fill the Ward 1 vacancy—first for Franklin Danley and then for Ed Wood—each failed by 3‑3 votes. Council members returned the issue to the agenda for future consideration; no appointment was made.
The council also considered electing a vice mayor for a two‑year term through May 2027. A motion to renominate the incumbent, Vice Mayor Grama DeGary, did not secure a majority after votes produced a three‑to‑three tie, so no vice mayor was elected at the meeting.
Council members described the outcomes as procedural rather than personal. In discussion after the votes, some members said changes to stipulations or the selection timeline affected support for nominees. Mayor and staff said they will seek direction on whether to reopen applications, continue deliberations or call a special meeting to resolve the appointments.
Other items acted on at the meeting—library board reappointments, historic preservation ex officio confirmation and several consent‑agenda matters—were approved unanimously; the council chose not to take further action on the Ward 1 vacancy or the vice mayor post at this meeting.
