Majority wants to let new board make selection

By Gregory Childress

gchildress@heraldsun.com; 918-1046

CHAPEL HILL -- The Town Council has scratched plans to name former councilman Bill Strom's replacement at its Nov. 9 meeting.

The decision came Wednesday after it became clear that a majority of the council prefers to allow the post-election council sworn in on Dec. 7 to fill the seat vacated by Strom on Aug. 1.

Mayor Kevin Foy had hoped to name Strom's successor at the council's Nov. 9 meeting during which each of the 12 citizens vying to fill the seat would have had an opportunity make a pitch to the council.

"My colleagues disagree with me," Foy said in an interview Thursday.

By Councilwoman Laurin Easthom's count, at least six of eight council members have stated that they prefer to allow the newly elected council to fill the seat.

"The new council is going to have to work with this person," Easthom said Thursday. "I'm OK with that. It's arguably the most democratic way to proceed given the circumstances."

Strom left behind a firestorm of controversy after he resigned Aug. 1, which was just days too late to allow voters to elect his replacement in Tuesday's election.

Some groups such as Citizens for Responsible Government have lobbied the council to hold off naming a successor until after the new council is seated. The group submitted a petition to that effect to council on Wednesday.

Others citizens have asked the council to also agree to name the fifth-place finisher in Tuesday's election.

"Since the citizens won't be able to vote [to replace Strom], I think that's the next best thing," said Jim Merritt.

All five challengers in the eight-person race to fill four council seats have filed applications to fill Strom's seat. The challengers are Will Raymond, Penny Rich, Matt Pohlman, Gene Pease and John DeHart.

They are joined by H. Brock Page, Joe Capowski, Joshua Ravitch, Donna Bell, Lee Pavao, Aaron Shah and Jason Baker to round out the field of 12 applicants vying to fill the vacancy.

None of the incumbents -- Easthom, Merritt or Ed Harrison -- tossed their names into the hat for the appointment.

The incumbents have expressed ethical concerns about being a part of a process that could eventually lead to their colleagues appointing them to fill the vacancy. Some also worried that filing to fill the vacancy could be seen by voters as a sign of political weakness.

Had Strom, who has moved to New York, resigned and left office a minimum of three days before the filing period ended, voters would have chosen his replacement in Tuesday's election.