gchildress@heraldsun.com; 918-1046
Chapel Hill — Former Town Councilman Bill Strom’s departure has weaved a tangled web for his ex-colleagues.
The complexity of the challenges Strom left behind when he resigned Aug. 1 instead of a minimum of three days before the July 17 filing deadline played out Monday during the continuation of a Sept. 4 meeting during which Mayor Kevin Foy officials declared the council vacancy and set in motion a process to replace Strom.
Had Strom resigned July 14 or sooner, voters would have chosen his replacement. Because he didn’t, the council now finds itself stuck entertaining questions about whether the current council or the one elected Nov. 3 should select Strom’s replacement and whether the fifth-place finisher in the race for four seats should be appointed to replace him.
While there is nothing to bind legally council members to such an agreement, several members think the person who finishes fifth in the race should get the nod to fill the vacancy.
Council member Matt Czajkowski, who supports that concept, called on the council to adopt a nonbinding resolution Monday agreeing to appoint the fifth-place finisher to Strom’s seat. He argued that doing so would give voters clarity about the process.
But others said it would be inappropriate to attempt to hold council members to such an agreement or force it upon new members elected in November.
“We can’t bind each other to a particular decision that isn’t going to be made until at least — given the sense of this council — until Nov. 9 and maybe not until January,” said council member Mark Kleinschmidt, who is also running for mayor.
Carol Ann Zinn, representing Citizens for Responsible Government, said the group thinks the new council should choose Strom’s successor.
“We believe the newly elected Town Council which will be sworn in on Dec. 7 should in January make the selection of any new council member from among those who have applied,” Zinn said.
In addition, candidates for council now have the dilemma of whether to toss their names into the hat for consideration for the vacancy, which some worry would be seen by voters as a lack of confidence in their candidacy. To be eligible for consideration, citizens must apply for the vacancy by 5 p.m. on Oct. 12.
“Go ahead and apply and not worry about people thinking you think you’re going to lose,” said council member Sally Greene. “It’s just a weird process that we’re involved in.”
Mayor pro tem Jim Ward also encouraged council candidates to file an application for the vacancy. He said doing so would not be a “declaration of vulnerability,” just an attempt by candidates to “maximize their potential to serve” on the Town Council.
While she leans toward appointing the fifth-place finisher, council member Laurin Easthom said she won’t apply to fill the Strom vacancy.
“If I don’t get into the top four … it just doesn’t seem right,” Easthom said. “It’s not what I want to do. I’m here to be elected, to win, not be appointed by my peers.”
