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Board appoints Shane Sawyer to fill Ward 1 alderman vacancy; he is sworn in
Summary
The Bolivar Board of Aldermen voted to appoint Shane Sawyer to the Ward 1 alderman vacancy and swore him in at the Feb. 10 meeting after limited debate over timing and representation.
The Bolivar Board of Aldermen voted to appoint Shane Sawyer to fill the vacant Ward 1 seat and administered his oath of office on Feb. 10.
Mayor (presiding) nominated Sawyer and said seating a representative sooner would make the appointee a “full participant” in board work. Some aldermen and a resident asked why the mayor was appointing a candidate so close to an election, arguing voters might prefer to choose the officeholder. One member said the mayor has the authority to appoint and that the board could accept or reject that choice.
After brief discussion about the timing and potential for perceived favoritism, an alderman moved to approve the appointment and another seconded the motion. The mayor called for a voice vote; “The ayes have it,” and the mayor swore in Sawyer. During the oath Sawyer repeated the pledge to “support the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Missouri” before taking his seat.
The mayor thanked members for the support; Sawyer expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve. The board immediately moved on to the next agenda item.
The appointment restored Ward 1 representation ahead of the upcoming election; the council did not record a roll-call tally for that voice vote.
