Hillsdale City Council elections are fast approaching and an Oct. 23 registration deadline looming, no candidates are registered to represent Ward II. Barring a change in the city charter, and unless a resident of Ward II decides to run, the district will be unrepresented on the council beginning in November.
“With the vacancy that sits now, Ward II is already underrepresented,” Hillsdale City Clerk Michelle Loren told the Collegian.
Since Councilman Tim Wells moved out of Ward II and resigned his office in May, Ward II has had one vacant seat on the council. The city attempted to fill the seat, but without success.
“We were going to have a special election, but we couldn’t get anyone to run — no one showed any interest in being a candidate,” said Mayor Scott Sessions.
Councilwoman Sally Kinney, who has represented Ward II since 2007, is not permitted to run for re-election due to term limits imposed by the city charter, although she said she would be willing to run again.
“It’s pretty much up in the air depending on who runs as a write-in candidate,” Sessions said. “Sally Kinney can’t run because this is her second term.”
As of yet, the council hasn’t discussed altering the charter to allow Kinney to run again.
“Going forward, if someone wanted to put it on the agenda, the council would have to discuss,” Sessions said. “There would have to be a charter change, and a charter change always requires a vote from the city.”
Five seats will be open in the upcoming election: Sally Kinney, councilwoman from Ward II, and Mary Beth Bail, councilwoman for Ward IV, are term limited out of office; Councilman Brian Watkins of Ward I has chosen not to run for re-election, and one Ward II seat on the council is already vacant. Councilman Bruce Sharp of Ward III has already filed for reelection.
“We don’t have huge attendance at council meetings,” Loren said. “The community seems to be aware of the problem, but so far no one has stepped up to serve.”
Though five seats are available, only one name will appear on the ballots. Councilman Bruce Sharp, running for re-election to Ward III, was the only candidate for city council to register before the ballot deadline. Others have since registered with the clerk’s office to be write-in candidates, but Ward II still lacks even a write-in candidate.
“I do hope someone represents Ward ll,” Councilwoman Sally Kinney told the Collegian.
The city has not had a problem filling council seats until this year.
“We’ve never had this problem before,” Loren said. “We only have one name on four ballots. It’s pretty sad.”
Councilmembers Adam Stockford, Emily Davis, Patrick Flannery will remain on as Council members, since their terms don’t end until 2017.
“You’ve just got seven councilmember votes,” Loren said, pointing out that the Mayor’s vote is usually a tie-breaker when all four wards are fully represented. “It’s a detriment.”
