Council appoints Dave Burris to Ward 1; elects Bill Lukens president, J.R. Huddleston vice president

The Hot Springs City Council appointed Dave Burris to fill the Ward 1 vacancy and then elected Bill Lukens as council president and J.R. Huddleston as vice president during the same meeting.

Burris addressed the council as an applicant, describing prior service on the council, local business experience and a commitment to “go by facts and by the numbers,” and said he would serve the remainder of the one-year term if appointed. Council members then responded to a verbal roll call poll conducted by staff and announced a 4–2 result in favor of Burris. He immediately took the oath of office administered at the meeting.

The appointment restores an eight-member council. Council leadership elections followed: Lukens was nominated and approved unanimously as council president; Huddleston was chosen as vice president after a brief roll-call poll.

Why it matters: The appointment fills an immediate ward vacancy and restores the council’s full membership ahead of budget hearings and other summer work. The council’s president and vice president will lead committee assignments and preside in the mayor’s absence.

Details and context: Burris told the council he had served several prior terms, had stepped away previously for health reasons, and is prepared to serve through the remaining one-year term. He answered council questions about his availability and health; he said his physicians had reduced medications and he did not expect an inability to serve during the one-year term but declined to guarantee future attendance…