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Allegan council appoints Charles Clark II to fill vacant seat after ranked vote
Summary
After interviewing multiple applicants, the Allegan City Council used a 1-to-7 ranked voting process to appoint Charles Clark II to the vacant council seat. Clark took the oath for a one-year term set to expire November 2026.
Allegan — The Allegan City Council on Tuesday evening appointed Charles Clark the second to fill a vacant council seat, after a series of candidate interviews and a ranked 1-to-7 vote among council members.
Mayor Perrigo explained the procedure before interviews began, saying the council would use a ranked voting sheet (1 of 7 for each member) and that the appointed member would serve the remainder of a one-year term expiring in November 2026. City Manager Joel Dye was referenced during the explanation of the council-manager form of government.
Council members questioned and heard from several applicants before recessing and returning to tally ranked ballots. Clerk Tracy compiled the results and announced that Charles Clark II received the winning ranking. "So the person with the lowest tallies... So you are have been appointed to the vacant city council seat," a council member announced after the tally. Mayor Perrigo then moved to appoint Charles Clark the second; the motion was supported and approved by voice vote.
Clark was sworn in immediately. During the oath he repeated: "I, Charles Clark the second, do solemnly swear ... that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Michigan, and will faithfully and truly perform my duties ... for a term of 1 year set to expire in November 2026." Council members offered congratulations after the swearing-in.
The applicant interviews that preceded the vote emphasized downtown redevelopment and housing needs. Applicant Roger said the downtown is "thriving" and added, "I love Allegan," while several other applicants praised recent infrastructure and streetscape improvements and urged more action on housing and public-private partnerships. Multiple applicants told council they would serve on advisory boards if not selected.
The appointment followed no formal recorded roll-call tally in the transcript; the council approved the motion after the verbal ayes and none opposed were voiced. The newly appointed member is scheduled to attend the council's next regular meeting on Monday at 6:00 p.m. and will serve until the seat is up for election in November 2026.
The council did not identify further procedural steps for filling future vacancies during this session.
