Title
District 5 Council Member Vacancy
Action
Action:
Approve the process and schedule to fill the District 5 Council member vacancy.
Body
Committee Chair:
Council member Kenny Smith, Governance & Accountability Committee
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Stephanie C. Kelly, City Clerk’s Office
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Explanation
§ Council member John Autry, representing District 5, was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives, District 100, on November 8, 2016.
§ State Statutes provide that the vacancy be filled by appointment of the City Council. In cities whose elections are conducted on a partisan basis, the person appointed shall be a member of the same political party as the person being replaced. Other qualifications as provided for by Statute are that the appointed successor:
- Be a registered voter;
- Be 20 years of age or older; and
- Be a resident in and registered to vote in District 5.
Governance & Accountability Committee Action
§ On November 28, 2016, the Governance & Accountability Committee reviewed the three most recent Council member vacancy processes, dating from 2005 to 2013.
§ The Committee voted unanimously (Smith, Mayfield, Autry, Phipps) to recommend a process consistent with prior practices, specifically:
- Monday, December 12, 2016: Application process opens
§ The Charlotte Communications & Marketing Office and City Clerk’s Office will advertise the vacancy and solicit applications from qualified candidates through the media and City website.
§ The application will be available on the City’s website, by e-mail, fax, and hard copy.
§ The application will include the following seven customary fields: 1) Name, 2) Postal Address, 3) Phone, 4) E-mail Address, 5) Confirmation of registered voter in the Democratic Party, 6) Confirmation of living in District 5, 7) Statement of interest.
- Monday, January, 2, 2017, 11:59 p.m.: Application process closes
§ All interested candidates must submit an application to the City Clerk’s Office.
- Wednesday, January 4, 2017: Completed applications provided to Council
§ Completed applications will be distributed to City Council as part of the Monday, January 9 Council Business Agenda.
- Monday, January 9, 2017: Public Forum for qualified applicants
§ As part of the regular Business Meeting Agenda, Council will hold a forum to receive comments from qualified candidates who have applied for the position if they wish to speak, where each candidate will be allotted three minutes.
- Tuesday, January 17, 2017: Council appointment
§ Council will vote to appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy at the start of the Council Zoning Meeting.
- Wednesday, January 18, 2017: Swearing-In
§ The person appointed to fill the vacancy will be sworn in by the Mayor and City Clerk. A formal swearing-in ceremony will be held on Monday, January 23.
- Monday, January 23, 2017: Formal Swearing-In Ceremony
§ A formal swearing-in ceremony will be held where the new Council member will join the full Council at the dais for the January 23 Business Meeting.