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Union council appoints Earl Elworth to Planning Commission after 5-2 vote
Summary
After a 5-2 vote on May 11, 2026, the City of Union council approved Mayor O'Callaghan's appointment of Earl Elworth to the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals; the decision followed a 4-3 motion to table that sought an interview for Christina Barry.
Mayor O'Callaghan's nominee, Earl Elworth, was appointed to the City of Union Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals after a 5-2 council vote at the May 11 meeting.
The appointment came after an earlier motion by Councilmember Mrs. Black to table the nomination and allow Christina Barry to be interviewed; that motion passed 4-3. Law Director Joseph Moore told council that, under the City Charter, appointments to the Planning Commission are made by the mayor with council approval, saying, "This is what the Charter says, and that's why he's operating in this manner." Mayor O'Callaghan then moved to appoint Mr. Elworth; the motion was seconded and approved 5-2. Mr. Elworth was sworn in by the Law Director immediately after the vote.
Why it mattered: members who voted to table said they wanted an opportunity to interview an alternate prospective appointee; others said Mayor O'Callaghan's nomination was appropriate given Mr. Elworth's volunteer work in the community. Councilman Rarick expressed concerns about the appointment process and said additional due diligence would benefit future appointments.
Council recorded votes: the motion to table passed Yes — Rarick, Thomas-Roth, Black, Brookover (4); No — O'Callaghan, Bruns, Bennett (3). The subsequent appointment passed Yes — O'Callaghan, Thomas-Roth, Bruns, Bennett, Rarick (5); No — Black, Brookover (2). The minutes state Mr. Elworth was sworn in as a member of the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals by the Law Director.
The minutes and spoken record show Mrs. Black asked that Christina Barry be allowed to be interviewed; the record does not specify whether Ms. Barry formally filed an application or was present at the meeting. The council did not reverse the appointment after the swearing-in.
The Law Director's explanation referenced the City Charter requirement that mayoral appointments to the Planning Commission be made with council approval. The minutes also note the mayor described Mr. Elworth's volunteer history (including work with local youth programs, the Union Community Park and an organization labeled in the minutes as "NABL"; the acronym is not expanded in the record).
Next steps: the minutes do not record any further action on Planning Commission membership after the swearing-in. The council did not vote to reopen the appointment at this meeting.
