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Council rejects July special election, approves temporary appointment process for District 2 seat
Summary
After a lengthy debate about incumbency and voter representation, the council voted down a motion for a July special election and instead approved a temporary appointment process; applications are due to the clerk by April 14 at 4:30 p.m. with interviews and a decision to follow.
Council debated how to fill the vacant District 2 aldermanic seat before voting to pursue a temporary appointment process rather than a special election.
Why it matters: The decision determines whether District 2 voters will choose their representative in a standalone July special election or whether the council will appoint an interim alderman who will run in the next regular election.
The clerk outlined the options: a temporary appointment (the successor serves until the seat’s expiration) or a standalone special election (July timing with estimated costs of $5,000–$6,000 and operational overlap with the partisan primary). The clerk noted that adding a local contest to the partisan April primary is not permitted and that a special election would require separate scheduling and ballots.
Alderman Shellpepper (District 2) argued for a special election, saying appointments “breed mistrust” and that District 2 residents deserve the opportunity to choose their representative. "By appointing a member to the council, we're not giving District 2 representation — we're giving ourselves representation," he said, urging that the voters decide.
Other council members cited voter fatigue, cost and historical precedent for appointments when vacancies occur with less than a year remaining; the mayor said past practice had been to appoint when a term's remainder was short and emphasized a need for a full council to address forthcoming decisions. Council first voted on a motion to hold a special election in July; that motion failed on roll call. The council then moved and passed a motion to proceed with the temporary appointment process. The clerk set application logistics: letters of interest and resumes due to the clerk’s office by April 14 at 4:30 p.m., with the council to interview candidates and confirm a temporary appointment.
The appointment process will produce an interim District 2 alderman who will need to run in the next regular election cycle if they seek a full term.
