Wanna be a Council member?

Posted on by Brian Postelle

The city of Asheville is now taking applications from people interested in replacing outgoing City Council member and Buncombe County commissioner-elect Holly Jones, who today submitted her letter of resignation.

The selection process was triggered when Jones won her bid for a seat on the county board Tuesday night. Her departure leaves an empty seat on Council, and the remaining six members will have to pick a replacement to finish out the last year of Jones’ term.

On Thursday, Jones submitted her letter of resignation from the Council, effective Dec. 1, the same day she will be sworn in as a county commissioner.

The application period, open until noon on Nov. 26, is the next step in a new selection process approved by Council in October. Applications are available through the City Clerk’s office at Asheville City Hall, and applicants must be registered to vote in Asheville.

The process was suggested as an alternative to the practice of appointing to the seat whomever got the fourth-highest vote count in the last Council election.

On Dec. 2, Council members will determine which applicants they want to interview. On Dec. 9, they will conduct interviews and vote to appoint a seventh member. The new Council member will be sworn in on Dec. 12.

For information or an application, contact the City Clerk’s office at 259-5601 or mburleson@ashevillenc.gov.

— Brian Postelle, staff writer

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