Council to Appoint New District 3 Councilmember Later This Month

The City Council will appoint the new District 3 Councilmember in a special meeting on Sept. 29.

The new councilmember will fill the vacancy created by the death of John J. Kennedy in July.

“Following a query on availability, the full City Council confirmed its availability to attend a special meeting on Thursday, September 29, starting at 5:00 p.m. The meeting agenda will have the singular issue of the interview and appointment process for the Council District 3 vacancy,” according to a city staff report.

Justin Jones, Pastor Lucious Smith and Brandon Lamar have qualified for the seat.

The City Council is scheduled to discuss the appointment process on Monday.

In correspondence to the City, local residents showed support for Lamar and Jones.

“Mr. Jones is qualified and I’d vote for him to fill the vacant seat,” said District 3 resident Mark Goff.

Lamar lost to Kennedy in the June primary.

“Brandon Lamar got 38% of the last vote and he would be an excellent choice,” said Eloise Kaeck.

According to the City Charter, the City Council must fill the vacancy within 75 days or by Oct. 4.

The applicant who is chosen will serve the remainder of the current term until December 12. After that the council must undertake the process again.

Kennedy’s death created two vacancies that the council must fill.

The first vacancy covers Kennedy’s current term of office, which ends on December 12. The second vacancy begins December 12, the beginning of the term was elected when he won the June 7th Primary Election.

“That vacancy does not exist until December 12, and it is to be filled no earlier than that date, and no later than 75 days thereafter, by the newly constituted City Council sworn into office at the December 12th Organizational Meeting,” according to a recent city staff report.

The term for the second vacancy will last until December 9, 2024 when the voters in the district decide their representative.

The person who is appointed by the City Council to fill the remainder of Councilmember Kennedy’s current term may be the same person who is appointed by the Council to fill the second vacancy.

However, there must be two separate City Council votes, and the second appointment must be made by the newly sworn and constituted City Council that takes office as of the December 12, 2022 Organizational Meeting.