Monday Morning Bullpen: Council Returns Next Monday

Council returns next Monday after a lengthy absence.

High up on the list will be the process to fill the vacancy left by John Kennedy.

Expect each applicant to give a presentation and then answer questions from the City Council.

Justin Jones wasted no time qualifying for the seat. Jones turned in 137 signatures to City Clerk Mark Jomsky on Sept. 2.

Kind of surprised Jones was the first to qualify.

Brandon Lamar just ran for City Council in that district and should have ready made supporters willing to sign on the dotted line and Lucious Smith .. well he’s Lucious Smith.

What’s the hold up?

I hope these guys aren’t running around trying to collect 1,000 signatures or something.

Candidates only need 25 valid signatures to qualify, not 500, not 1,000, or 35 as I erroneously reported last week.

All it takes in 25. Still it wouldn’t hurt to turn in a few more just in case — like 35.

Here’s why.

Those 137 people who signed Jones’ petition are now off the playing field and those signatures cannot be used to qualify another candidate.

Yeah there are a lot of residents living in the district, but 137 signatures is still a lot to take off the game board.

The clock is ticking on the remaining applicants who have until Sept. 8 to submit their applications.

By the way, Jones, Lamar, Smith and Andrade are applicants until they get before the City Council, at which point they become candidates because at that moment they are campaigning for votes.

In the end that’s what counts, the presentation and the answer before the City Council and the Mayor.

That’s who decides the next District 3 City Councilmember.

The City Council definitely won’t pick a dabbler to hold the seat. I heard Steve Madison use that word once to describe an opponent.

The Council wants someone with an understanding of the workings of the city and the City Council.

Of course there is a learning curve, but when it comes to the appointment, the Council doesn’t care if you’re a progressive, a biker, a construction worker, cowboy or a police officer.

Damn, I just described the Village People.

In all seriousness, the City Council is where big boys and girls play.

Come correct.

As far as selecting the D3 representative, yes the people should have the final say, but right now they don’t. That’s what the charter says and it’s cut and dry.

I’d still like to see the City Charter reformed to lay out the process a little more.

To date, the city’s top document only lays out a time limit to fill vacancies, a tie breaker mechanism — drawing lots — and a time period for the seat to come before the voters.

We’re not there at this point.

One thing is for sure, whoever wins that seat has huge shoes to fill.

I hope somebody comes with something legit.