Council appoints Cody Holtz to fill Ward 2 vacancy after suspended-code vote

The Jefferson City Council voted to appoint Cody Holtz to the Ward 2 council seat after suspending section 12-8 of the city code to allow an immediate vote.

Holtz, who introduced himself to the council as an attorney based in Jefferson City and a former member of the Jefferson City Homelessness Task Force, told the council he favors “practical, measured” decision-making that emphasizes implementable policies and long-term maintenance. He said he supports new housing projects that include lower-income units and urged careful fiscal scrutiny of large infrastructure proposals.

Council members moved and seconded the motion to suspend the code provision and put Holtz’s nomination to a roll-call vote. The roll call recorded affirmative votes from Hollers, Allen, Job, Camper, Lester, Ll and Young; Council member Thomas voted no. The motion and the appointment passed.

After the vote the clerk administered the oath of office. The oath transcript records the appointee’s name as “Cody Robert Holton,” while Holtz had introduced himself earlier as “Cody Holtz.” The clerk instructed the new member on upcoming council dates and the mayor welcomed him to the body.

Holtz told council members he supports the city’s recent efforts to encourage housing — including a $5,000 incentive tied to home purchases in older neighborhoods — and said developer incentives are reasonable tools when accompanied by oversight to prevent abuse and to ensure funds remain available for other priorities. He emphasized that decisions should weigh long-term costs of maintenance and be evaluated against real-world constraints.

The council’s formal action to appoint Holtz concludes the vacancy process for Ward 2; the appointment was finalized by roll-call vote and oath during the meeting. The council adjourned shortly afterward.