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Fairfax council appoints Linda Canton as town clerk and names Talia Friedman town treasurer
Summary
After public interviews and extended public comment, Fairfax Town Council on Feb. 5 appointed Linda Canton to fill the vacant town clerk seat and Talia Friedman as town treasurer, each to serve the remainder of terms ending January 2026. Council votes followed contentious public testimony and a substitute motion for the clerk appointment.
Fairfax Town Council voted Feb. 5 to fill two elected vacancies left after December resignations, appointing Linda Canton as town clerk and Talia Friedman as town treasurer to serve through January 2026.
The council held public interviews for multiple candidates for both offices and heard three hours of public comment earlier in the meeting. After a substitute motion to appoint Canton as town clerk passed on a 3-2 roll call vote, the council later approved the appointment of Friedman as treasurer by a separate vote.
The clerk appointment followed competing motions. A motion to appoint Deborah Benson was made earlier in the meeting but a substitute motion to appoint Linda Canton carried on a roll call that recorded Council members Kohler, Hellman and Blasch voting yes and Council members Ager and Gellley voting no. The council then proceeded to interview and select the treasurer by separate motion; after public comment and deliberation the council approved Talia Friedman for treasurer.
Council members and residents framed the appointments around recent debate over whether Fairfax should retain elected clerk and treasurer roles; speakers cited the town's Nov. 2024 ballot measures and state requirements that the council either appoint replacements or call a special election within 60 days of a resignation. Town Manager Heather Abrams had earlier told the council that special elections would be expensive and that, under state law, the council had 60 days to appoint replacements or call a special election.
Candidates spoke briefly during interviews. Deborah Benson, a longtime Fairfax resident and volunteer, summarized her bookkeeping and audit experience and told the council, "I believe I would run" for clerk in 2026 if appointed. Michael McIntosh, another candidate for clerk, told the council a town clerk's "first and primary job is listed as the legal custodian of records," arguing for the office's continuing importance. Talia Friedman, who was appointed treasurer, told the council she was "excited to see this opportunity" and cited prior volunteer and bookkeeping experience.
The council and members of the public debated whether appointments should be made by the council or by a special election; several residents argued the positions should have been put to voters. The council noted that appointing replacements is a common approach to fill midterm vacancies and that a special election would likely be held in November 2025 and carry significant municipal cost.
The council did not adopt any changes to the town code or to the underlying governance structure during the meeting. Newly appointed officials will be sworn in and assume the ceremonial and statutorily described duties of their respective offices until the next regular election.
Votes at a glance: - Town Clerk (vacancy through Jan. 2026): Substitute motion to appoint Linda Canton — Passed (Yes: Council Member Kohler; Vice Mayor Hellman; Mayor Blasch. No: Council Member Ager; Council Member Gellley). Motion language recorded: to appoint Linda Canton as town clerk to fill the vacancy through 2026. (Mover/Second: not specified in the audio transcript.) - Town Treasurer (vacancy through Jan. 2026): Motion to appoint Talia Friedman — Passed (Yes: Council Member Ager; Council Member Kohler; Vice Mayor Hellman; Mayor Blasch. No: Council Member Gellley). Motion language recorded: to appoint Talia Friedman as town treasurer to fill the vacancy through 2026. (Mover/Second: not specified in the audio transcript.)
What happens next: Appointees will take office to complete the unexpired terms; the council and staff said the town will manage routine onboarding and that the positions are expected to appear on the 2026 ballot. The town manager also reminded the public that a special election remains an option if the council chooses that path within the time allowed by state law.
