Colusa council to appoint new member

Colusa officials plan to move quickly to fill an empty seat on the City Council.

The council has decided to appoint someone to fill the vacancy that will be created when Bob MacKaben resigns at the end of the month.

The council has until May 1 to make an appointment, but hopes to swear in a new member by April 20, city officials said Tuesday.

“The council has 30 days from the date of the vacancy to make an appointment or call for a special election,” said City Manager Jan McClintock.

City officials said they could consolidate the election process with the November primary, which would save money, but Colusa citizens have shown little interest in public service in the most recent elections.

“In the last few years, there were no challenges,” MacKaben said. “Three people ran for three seats.”

In 2008, Kirk Kellerher ran unopposed for the seat on the council left vacant when longtime Councilman John Rogers chose not to seek re-election.

“It was unfortunate,” Kellerher said of the lack of interest.

City officials said they hope by seeking applications for appointment, they will have a greater interest in the post.

“Maybe we can get people jazzed up to run,” MacKaben said.

Interested parties will be required to submit letters of interest and complete a questionnaire by March 30 to be considered for the post.

The questions inquire as to the person’s opinions, priorities, ideas and visions.

The City Council will review the applications and interview candidates in open session, McClintock said.

The appointment will require a majority vote.

The bid to appoint Donna Critchfield, one of three applicants vying for a vacancy in 2007, led to repeated 2-2 deadlocks, then to standoffs over whether to hold an election the city estimated would cost $8,000.

After repeated votes, council members failed to agree on any of the three applicants for the open seat.

Critchfield, now mayor, won her seat on the council in a special election, and is serving the remainder of Richard Patton’s term, which ends this year.

Patton, a longtime Colusa County judge, won his seat on the council in November of 2006, but died the following May at age 87.

If a selection is made from a pool of applicants, the new councilmember will be sworn in at the beginning of public session on April 20.

Anyone interested in applying for the council seat should go to City Hall, 425, Webster St., or call 458-4740.