Myrtle Creek council appoints Jamie Macmore to vacant seat after candidate interviews

Myrtle Creek’s city council voted to fill an open council seat on the night it interviewed three applicants, appointing Jamie Macmore and administering the oath of office.

The council convened interviews for Gail, Jamie and Jessica, asking each the same set of questions about their involvement with the city and priorities for Myrtle Creek. Gail, a former council member, described prior service on the budget committee and local organizations and said she wanted to reengage with community activities. Jamie emphasized years of regular meeting attendance and volunteer experience, including work on code review and fundraising; Jessica said her Chamber of Commerce and mural-committee work gave her insight into business and community needs.

Council members discussed strengths and concerns for each applicant before making a motion to appoint Jamie Macmore. One councilor said Jamie "has quite a bit of experience dealing with a couple of things" and was likely to help build consensus during a period of staff turnover; another praised Jessica’s candor about time constraints. The council approved the appointment by voice vote, and Macmore took the oath to "support the Constitution and laws of the United States and the state of Oregon and the charter and ordinances of the city of Myrtle Creek."

The vote followed council members’ remarks that they wanted someone who could bridge business and civic organizations and help the council through current operational challenges. The new councilor was welcomed during council comments and will assume the seat immediately. The council also encouraged applicants who were not selected to consider running in the next election cycle.