By Seth Schmidt
A vacancy on the Tracy City Council will be filled by appointment.
Accepting a recommendation from City Attorney Matt Gross, the council voted Monday to begin accepting applications for a one-year term on the council. The application period began Wednesday (Nov. 29), and is to remain open through Dec. 22. The council would then be in a position to review applications, and make an appointment in January.
The vacancy was created by the Nov. 13 resignation of Bill Chukuske, who was elected to a four-year council term in November of 2016 and took office in January.
Because there are more than three years left in the term of office Chukuske was elected to, Gross advised the council that vacancy must be filled by appointment. The appointment would be for one year, expiring Jan. 14, 2019.
The remaining two years of Chukuske’s original term would be filled during the November 2018, general election.
Candidates for the one-year appointment can apply at Tracy City Hall beginning Wednesday, Nov. 29. Candidates will be asked to fill out the application form used for filling vacancies on other Tracy civic boards. The application period ends at 5 p.m. on Dec. 22.
To be eligible for the council appointment, individuals must be a qualified city voter, be at least 21 years old on the date of taking office, have U.S. citizenship, and have been a Tracy resident for at least 30 days prior to taking office.
Tracy city charter calls for a five-member council; a mayor and four council members. Chukuske’s resignation leaves the council with just four members: Tony Peterson, Dave Tiegs, Pam Cooreman, and Mayor Ferrazzano. The mayor was absent Monday, leaving a three-member board to conduct business Monday night. Three is the minimum for a council quorum.
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In related action, the council officially accepted Chukuske’s resignation and declared the position vacant.