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Ivins council outlines process for filling midterm vacancy; written ballot vote set for Thursday
Summary
Council staff reviewed a resolution and Utah law governing midterm vacancy appointments, held candidate interviews and scheduled a written‑ballot appointment vote at the next meeting; staff said the ballot may be secret and the appointee would be sworn in that night.
Ivins’ City Council on Jan. 13 conducted interviews with three finalists to fill a midterm council vacancy and reviewed the procedural rules that will govern a written‑ballot appointment at the body’s next meeting.
The council heard a legal overview from Sharon Gillespie, who said, “The Utah state law on midterm vacancy replacement is the process that we're required to follow,” and emphasized that state law generally requires a vacancy be filled within 30 days rather than deferred to a later election. City staff reviewed Resolution 20-25-24R, which calls for candidates to draw numbers from a hat to set speaking order, two‑minute opening statements, questioning in reverse order and closing remarks.
City Manager Chuck Gillette and staff advised that the council could use either the hat draw or application order if all candidates agree. Officials also explained the ballot procedure: written ballots will be used and, per prior discussion, a secret ballot option is allowed; staff will prepare ballots and announce the result. If the first round yields a two‑two‑one split, the candidate with one vote would be eliminated and the remaining two would be re‑balloted. The council also agreed to move the appointment to the start of Thursday’s meeting and to swear in the selected appointee that night.
No formal appointment vote occurred during the Jan. 13 work meeting. The schedule and the procedural steps — including whether individual votes will be read aloud or reported only as a tally — were clarified for the upcoming meeting.
Next step: the council will take the written‑ballot appointment vote at the next council meeting; if no candidate reaches a majority, the council will re‑vote until an appointee receives a majority.
