Will Raymond, candidate for Chapel Hill Town Council, proposed tonight that all eight candidates apply for appointment to finish ex-council member Bill Strom's term.
Speaking at a Sierra Club forum in Town Hall, Raymond said having all eight candidates for four council seats put their names in for consideration would enable the council to appoint the fifth-highest vote getter in November's election. There are two years left on Strom's term.
"Quite frankly this is quite a mess," Raymond said. Nowhere else would a discussion about how to fill Strom's seat even be taking place, he said, because any other government would appoint the next highest vote getter in the general election.
"We can short circuit this whole thing by all of us applying," Raymond said.
It's not clear the council would even pick from the general election candidate pool. Some have said the council should appoint a past member or experienced advisory board member to eliminate any learning curve.
Raymond spoke in response to an audience member's question. The question was poorly worded. It asked whether candidates losing the election would apply to fill Strom's seat, which the council will fill by appointment. But the council has set an Oct. 11 deadline to apply and the election is Nov. 3, candidate Penny Rich noted.
Of those answering the question, incumbents Laurin Easthom, Ed Harrison and Jim Merritt said they would not apply. John Dehart said the council should wait to fill the seat, Gene Pease said he was undecided but leaning against applying. Rich said she wants to be elected but did not say yes or no.
Only Matt Pohlman said he would apply. "I want to serve the town," he said.
No one responded to Raymond's suggestion.
Comments
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A Simple Solution
Fri, 09/11/2009 - 14:53 — JimBirchI think the most effective way to solve the problem is to wait till after the local election has been decided and let the newly-elected council select the replacement.
After all, they're the ones who will be working with this person for the next two years.
I agree with both sides...
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 22:29 — ActLocalI congratulate Will Raymond for including EVERYONE in his proposal that ALL candidates apply for the vacancy to be appointed by the council.
I ALSO agree with the incombents for their personal rejection of the proposal. With all of their advantages of reelection, if they cannot win a seat outright, they should not consider a back door which, by virtue of their relationships with the selecting council members, would taint their selection as favoritism.
Everyone who has expressed an opinion is correct. Only candidates who have offered themselves for election and have vetted themselves before the public, ought to be considered for the vacant position.
Incumbents who enjoy numerous benefits and personal connections, should withhold their names.
There is nothing to suggest that by submitting your name, you think that you are not worthy of election. That has been a fabricated argument which lacks any reasonable foundation. Any candidate who admits to that sort of false bravado, ought to disqualified by an intelligent electorate.
I hope that the other candidates see this issue as clearly as Will Raymond has and I trust that they will do the reasonable thing and submit their names.