Dems Announce Council-At-Large

[Jim O'Bryan]

Announced tonight at the Lakewood Democratic Club meeting was...

Current Council-At-Large member Brian Powers will not seek re-election.

Monique Smith and Ryan Nowlan will run for re-election.

Tom Bullock (about to be married), Cindy Marx, Sam O'Leary will run for Council-At-Large.


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[Peter Grossetti]

Anyone know ... if Tom Bullock wins an At-Large seat, is his current Ward 2 seat filled by an appointee for the remain term?

[Ryan Salo]

While I have never met Sam O'Leary I can say I am impressed he already has a website with some bio on it. I can't find anything about Cindy but look forward to learning more. New blood is generally a good thing, as long as they aren't just part of the get along go along group.

Does anyone know if Fitzgerald is just going to do a city wide mailer with his big picture showing "his team" ; Monique, Ryan and a third hand picked candidate?

Any republicans in the city willing to throw away some time and money to run?

[Missy Limkemann]

Dang I picked the wrong year NOT to run...LOL. (yes I toyed with the idea...but I am too much of a hot head with major anger issues...lol)

[Christopher Bindel]

Peter, it will not be an appointed seat, unless no one decides to run. Since Bullock has decided to run for the At-Large seat he is giving up all claims to the Ward II spot (you can not run for 2 positions at once), meaning it has to be filled by a new candidate(s). If no one decides to run (I find this unlikely) then I believe council would open the floor to applications for appointments.

[marklingm]

Peter, it will not be an appointed seat, unless no one decides to run. Since Bullock has decided to run for the At-Large seat he is giving up all claims to the Ward II spot (you can not run for 2 positions at once), meaning it has to be filled by a new candidate(s). If no one decides to run (I find this unlikely) then I believe council would open the floor to applications for appointments.

[Christopher Bindel]

Whats the question?

[marklingm]

Whats the question?

Are you telling us that the Ward 2 seat is now up for election, too?

[Christopher Bindel]

Yes.

[marklingm]

Yes.

Just Ward 2?

If so, is that because Tom is giving Ward 2 up?

If not, what about Wards 1, 3, and 4?

[Christopher Bindel]

I do not know what seats are all up for election. I know all 3 seats of at large are up, and, as listed above, there are 5 going for it. In the election the 3 with the most votes will get those positions.

As for the ward spots, I don't remember the last time Bullock was elected, so I don't know when his seat would have normally been up. I think the initial idea was that every 2 years there were Council elections so for instance in 2014 there would be At-Large and in 2016 would be all the ward seats. I could be wrong on this, but I thought that's what I heard some place. However since people leave for other position it messes this schedule up, which is what is happening now, and a lot in the last 5 years.

So as far as I know Ward II is the only ward seat open for this next election.

[Christopher Bindel]

I believe this is the case, but I could be wrong. Thinking over it again, If they want to keep the elections on schedule Peter may have been right. They might appoint someone for 1 year, as Bullocks term would be up next year, and then that way all the ward election wold be next year (just looked up term dates).

I guess we will have consult the codified Ordinances, or ask the law director.

[Kristine Pagsuyoin]

Tom was just elected in the last election, 2011. If he isn't elected at-large I am pretty sure he will keep his Ward 2 seat. If elected, I do think an appointment will be made and then that person would have to run on their own merit when Ward 2 is up for election again in 2015.

[Peter Grossetti]

... Peter may have been right ....or ask the law director.

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[Jim O'Bryan]

From the City Charter
SECTION 1. MEMBERSHIP, ELECTION AND TERM.

The legislative powers of the City, except as limited by this Charter, shall be vested in a Council consisting of seven (7) members, one (1) of whom shall be a resident of and elected from each of the four (4) wards in the City and three (3) of whom shall be elected at large. All members of Council shall serve for a term of four (4) years commencing on January 1 of the year following the date of the member’s election.

SECTION 2. QUALIFICATIONS AND VACANCIES.
Each member of Council shall have been for at least one (1) year immediately prior to the date of taking office both a resident and qualified elector of the City. Each member of Council elected from a ward of the City shall be a resident of the ward from which such member was elected. All members of Council shall continue to be residents and qualified electors of the City and, if elected or appointed from a ward, shall be and continue to be a resident of that ward. Any member who ceases to possess such qualifications shall forthwith forfeit his or her office. Vacancies in Council shall be filled by the remaining members thereof, provided that in the event Council does not so appoint a successor within sixty (60) days of the occurrence of a vacancy, the Mayor may fill the vacancy. The term of any appointee filling such a vacancy shall expire at the end of the unexpired term of the former Councilmember if that vacancy occurs two (2) years and one hundred five (105) days or less before the next regular election to be held for the office of the former Councilmember, or otherwise until his or her successor is elected and qualified at the next regular municipal election. Any vacancy that results from a recall election shall be filled in the manner provided by Article XXII of this Charter. (Amended 11-8-11.)

It would seem that Councilman Bullock, will be able to run for council without having to step down,
and that if he wins, City Council will appoint someone to fill the seat fro the rest of the term, a
little less than two years.

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