Centennial council chooses appointment process, sets Jan. 30 deadline for District 2 applications

At a study session, the Centennial City Council directed staff to begin accepting applications to fill the District 2 vacancy and set a closing date of January 30 at 5:00 p.m., with the intention of appointing a replacement rather than calling a special election.

Chris Price, the staff presenter, told the council the Home Rule Charter provides two options "by appointment or the council can call for a special election," and emphasized the charter’s language that vacancies be filled "as soon as practicable," giving the council discretion on timing and method. Price warned that a city-run special election carries substantial logistical demands and likely greater cost and time than an appointment process.

Why it matters: A special election would require at least about 90 days to organize and could push the vote into a coordinated June election, which may lower per-jurisdiction cost but lengthen the period with an unfilled seat. Price and staff estimated a standalone district special election could range from tens of thousands historically to roughly $120,000–$130,000 depending on how costs are shared. By contrast, staff said an appointment can often be completed within a month or six weeks and requires far less clerk office involvement.

Council members discussed outreach, transparency and logistics for an appointment process. Miss Lovelace, who manages the application packet, told the body that if council accepts the draft form in the meeting packet staff "could do it as soon as tomorrow" and that "by the end of the week, could have it published." The council settled on a "flexible five" interview pool (five named interview slots, with allowance to add a sixth if warranted) and directed staff to publicize the opening to District 2 residents via the city’s usual communications channels.

The council set several procedural details: applications will require residency and voter-registration qualifications consistent with election rules (one year residency in the district and voter registration), applicants may upload resumes or supporting documents, and submitted applications are public records. The body also directed that, if more than five applications arrive, a review committee of two council members and two staff members will narrow the field to the flexible five for full-council, public interviews. Miss Lovelace summarized the next steps: staff will publish the form, accept applications until the January 30, 5:00 p.m. deadline, review and whittle applicants the week of February 2 if needed, and schedule interviews in the week of February 9 or on a regular meeting date depending on calendar availability.

Council members also debated ground rules for one-on-one contacts with applicants during the application window. The council agreed there would be no formal endorsements and that council members who are contacted and available may meet with applicants who request meetings, while emphasizing fairness so any applicant who asks would be afforded the same opportunity. Staff reminded the council that applications are public records and that members should avoid providing coaching or preferential guidance to potential applicants.

The study session concluded with the council confirming the operational direction to staff: publish the application promptly; accept applications through Friday, January 30 at 5:00 p.m.; use a two-council-member/two-staff review committee if more than five applicants are received; and hold public full-council interviews thereafter. The study session adjourned at 7:14 p.m.; the regular council meeting was scheduled to begin at 7:20 p.m.