MORGANTOWN — Morgantown City Council will conduct interviews of individuals interested in filling the vacant 3rd Ward seat in open public meetings.
On Wednesday, the city announced that it would take applications for the seat until March 18, conduct interviews March 23, and make an appointment March 30.
The city has since updated the information on its website to say it will interview “some or all applicants in open public meetings.”
Morgantown Communications Director Andrew Stacy said council will hold the meetings in an open format and they will be televised.
“However, they will have the option to go into executive session, if needed,” he said.
According to the city’s charter, council has 30 days from the March 5 resignation of former Councilor Zack Cruze to fill the seat, or a special election must be held.
The individual appointed to this seat will serve the remainder of Cruze’s term, which ends June 30.
Complicating the issue is that the appointment will come less than a month away from the city’s April 27 municipal election.
At one point Cruze had said he planned to stay on until early April so council could just appoint the winner of the 3rd Ward seat.
As it stands there will be no candidates on the ballot for the 3rd Ward, but there are two write-in candidates — Ixya Vega and Paul Liller.
Vega previously told The Dominion Post she didn’t intend to apply for the vacant seat as council selecting a candidate in the upcoming election would dirty the race and essentially sway the outcome of the election.
Vega added that she would apply for the vacancy, however, if other write-in candidates did.
Liller said he agrees with Vega’s assessment of the situation but hasn’t ruled out throwing his name in for the opening.
“Given that there are only two of us running, and not being sure if there really is anyone interested in filling the seat, I have not ruled out the possibility,” Liller said. “The city charter is quite clear that an appointment must be made, and as a result, I have not ruled out potentially applying for the seat, strictly in the interest of the folks of 3rd Ward, who need someone to represent them until the election produces a new winner.”
An online application for those interested in the seat, as well as a map of the current 3rd Ward boundaries, are available on the city’s website, morgantownwv.gov.
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