Blufftown Council unanimously appoints Spencer Wade to midterm vacancy

The Blufftown Council unanimously appointed applicant Spencer Wade to fill a midterm council vacancy on Oct. 28, 2025, after a public interview process and brief discussion. Chair (speaker labeled Chair) called the special meeting and led the interview, and a council member moved to appoint Wade; the motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

Applicant Spencer Wade told the council he moved to the area after meeting his partner and working locally in construction and river-guiding. "What I love about Bluff is the people and the sense of community," Wade said. He told council members he had no standing Tuesday conflicts and is willing to begin interim duties before an official January start, and he expressed interest in helping with the cemetery project in the coming weeks.

Gary Hawes, the other applicant, emphasized his long public-safety experience and said he would be willing to help "tie up loose ends" and support planning and zoning work through the transition. The council discussed the practical need to maintain planning and zoning capacity through January given pending ordinances and seven scheduled public hearings.

A council member moved to appoint Spencer Wade to the vacancy; after a second and short discussion the council voted in favor. The chair said the appointee will be sworn in during the regular council meeting on Nov. 4. Council members offered to provide a short one-on-one briefing and technical onboarding (email and access) to help the new member get up to speed.

The appointment followed a public, recorded interview and will give the council a full complement of members for upcoming land-use work. No formal appeal or contest was recorded in the meeting.