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Bozeman study commission tables vacancy rules; approves vice-mayor language and job'description requirement
Summary
After public comment on appointments and special elections, the commission voted unanimously to have staff draft vice-mayor language, tabled final decisions on filling vacancies to consult the county elections office, and required the city to adopt a commissioner job description by resolution with a 5'year review cycle.
The Bozeman Study Commission on Feb. 5 heard sustained public comment and internal debate about how to fill commissioner and mayor vacancies, whether to require special elections, and how to structure the vice'mayor role.
Public commenters urged more voter choice. Abby Jones of the Gallatin Valley Sentinel argued that appointments create an incumbency advantage: "Filling a vacancy by appointment...ignores the clear reality of the incumbent advantage," she told commissioners, citing that several recent appointees later won election. Daniel Carty (resident) urged expanding the commission to seven members with six district seats and an at'large mayor, and recommended special elections to fill vacancies when a…
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