Columbus council holds public hearing on 10 finalists for District 7 vacancy

Columbus City Council held a public hearing to hear from 10 finalists being considered to fill the District 7 seat left vacant by Council member Favor and to solicit public feedback. Council President Shannon G. Hardin opened the hearing and explained the charter process for filling vacancies and said finalists and public speakers would be given three minutes each.

The hearing brought forward 10 finalists, each given three minutes to address council and describe their priorities and qualifications. Finalists who spoke included Dorothy Malone; Bailey Phillips; Tim Fulton; Catherine Curry D'Souza; Lisa Macy; Jesse Vogel; Denzel Porteous; Ado Bedi III; Otto Beatty III (listed as a finalist by the clerk but did not speak in the hearing excerpt); and Shanice Green. Robert Lease submitted a written statement that was shared with council and did not attend in person.

Why it matters: Council members will make an appointment under the city charter when a seat becomes vacant. Council President Hardin told the room that council will formally nominate and vote on an appointment during a regular council meeting in January; if a majority of council members vote to appoint a nominee, that person will be sworn in under the charter and Columbus City Code. No nomination or vote occurred during this hearing.

What the finalists said (selection of direct quotes and stated priorities) Dorothy Malone, a longtime Columbus resident and community worker, summarized her community service and advocacy and closed, repeating a line she said had been recommended to her: "I am kind. I am smart. I am important." Malone's written statement was distributed to council members…