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Jason Sandford November 5, 2008

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Here’s the press release:

ASHEVILLE-Asheville City Council is calling for candidates to fill a vacant seat on the board.

The opening was created when City Councilwoman Holly Jones was elected Tuesday to the Buncombe County Commission. The City of Asheville’s Charter states that, “Any vacancy in the office of Mayor or Council shall be filled by the Council for the remainder of the unexpired term from the qualified electors of the City of Asheville.”

City Council plans to review applications and interview candidates during the next 30 days. Interviews will be conducted during the afternoon of Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 30 minute intervals. City Council expects to appoint the new member on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at the City Council meeting.

Applicants must be registered to vote in the City of Asheville.

Applications are available through the Asheville City Clerk’s Office. For more information, contact City Clerk Maggie Burleson at 259-5601 or [email protected]. The deadline for applications is noon Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Candidates are encouraged to contact City Council members for further information about serving on the board. City Council contact information can be found at www.ashevillenc.gov.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Change: The Open Thread

Ramsey and the Republicans, lost in the wilderness

4 Comments

NRT November 6, 2008

There is no law stipulating that the fourth highest voter getter automatically be given a vacant Council seat. Council started a precedent when it appointed Jim Ellis in 2001 after he finished 4th (and a vacancy was created when Charles Worley gave up his unfinished term to become mayor) and again in 2005 when it appointed Freeborn under similar circumstances when Terry Bellamy became mayor.

Despite such precedent I’m not sure expecting Council to appoint the fourth highest vote getter from an election that occurred over a year ago makes a whole lot of sense. It is one thing to expect such a move when the vacancy is created by someone moving midterm into the mayor’s seat and people, knowing the circumstances, can vote accordingly, and another to expect such a move when such a vacancy is created under circumstances totally unrelated to that election.

Personally I’d like to see someone of similar philosophy to Holly Jones who would have a really serious shot of holding the seat in 2009.

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eemilla November 5, 2008

Although it has been precedent, the law does not require the vacated seat to be filled by the next highest vote earner. I do not like an elected position being filled by appointment, nor do I want the city to spend gads of money on a special election that will probably have almost no turn out.

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greenashevilleblogspot.com November 5, 2008

Dear God, let’s pray not!

Reply
Michelle November 5, 2008

Isn’t the seat supposed to be filled by the next highest vote-getter (Bryan Freeborn)?

Reply