Title
At-Large Council Member Vacancy
Action
Action:
Approve the process and schedule to fill the At-Large Council member seat vacancy.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Patrick Baker, City Attorney’s Office
Explanation
§ At-Large Council member James Mitchell has submitted his resignation effective January 11, 2021.
§ State law provides that the vacancy shall 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 21 years of age or older; and
- Reside within a Charlotte municipal district and be qualified to vote in City Council elections.
Recommendation
§ In light of the need to fill the current at-large vacancy, please consider the proposed expedited schedule:
- Tuesday January 19, 2021: 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, or by fax.
§ The application will include the following eight fields: 1) Name, 2) Street Address, 3) Telephone, 4) E-mail address, 5) Date of Birth, 6) Confirmation of registered voter in Democratic Party, 7) Confirmation of residency in Charlotte and qualification to vote in municipal elections, and 8) Acknowledgment of review of Council’s Code of Ethics.
- Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.: Application process closes
§ All interested candidates must submit an application to the City Clerk’s Office.
- Wednesday, January 27, 2021: Completed applications provided to Council
§ Completed applications will be distributed to City Council in Council’s packets.
- Friday, January 29, 2021: Public Forum for qualified applicants
§ A Special Meeting of the City Council will be called to hold a candidate 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.
- Monday, February 1, 2021: Council appointment
§ Council will vote to appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy.
- Tuesday, February 2, 2021: 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, February 8.
- Monday, February 8, 2021: Formal Swearing-In Ceremony for Appointee
§ A formal swearing-in ceremony will be held where the new elected Council member will join the full Council at the dais for the January 10, 2022 Business Meeting.
Attachments
Attachment(s)
Application
Memorandum