Should an elected governing body appoint its own members? The Clarkesville City Council grappled with that question at their Monday night work session.
The Council discussed the possibility of appointing someone to fill the seat left vacant by Terry Gladden’s departure. Gladden resigned from the city council in May because he’s moving away to be closer to family.
For a governing body to conduct business, a quorum of members must be present at meetings. As long as they’re a person down, only one council member may be absent from any given meeting at any given time.
The Clarkesville City Charter allows the council to appoint a successor when a vacancy occurs “within 12 months of the expiration of the term of that office.” Gladden’s term ends at the end of this year. Council members discussed the pros and cons of appointing someone to succeed him. Mayor Pro Tem Franklin Brown said it’s something the council should consider.
“I don’t have a problem with it as long as we have the right people in place,” he said.
Pros and cons
Brown said he envisions the appointment process to be similar to that of appointing a resident to a board or a commission, where the individual files an application with the city, and the council selects from that pool of applicants.
“I think that would be the best. I would want to know if there is interest in becoming a Clarkesville council member,” said Brown. “Our goal would be for someone that we appoint to stay on and run in the election.”
Council member Brad Coppedge expressed his concerns over the optics of a council-appointed council member.
“I’m a big advocate of elections. I think the optics are that you need to be elected. You need to be put into this position because the people want you here,” he said.
Coppedge continued, saying, “I think it could be misread or maybe not looked at fairly. If we appoint someone, someone outside the community or even within the community could say, ‘Wow, I know why they took that person. Why they put that person in there because they are trying to get a certain vote done or get certain support.'”
Coppedge recommended setting the issue aside and letting the election “play out” this fall. The council did not reach a consensus.
Interested candidates may qualify to run for Clarkesville City Council the week of August 21, ahead of the November 7 municipal election.
