Document text
Gold Hill will get a mayor, after all: Council calls election By Buffy Pollock GOLD HILL � Just one month after council members decided not to declare the mayor�s seat vacant because of a lack of interest, 16-year resident Kevin Ryan applied for the position. Ryan, a former restaurant owner now working as an independent driver, said he applied after hearing the council would not hold a March election to fill the seat of Mayor Tim Roddam, who resigned in December. "The town needs a mayor," Ryan said. "We�re already at a disadvantage with no police department. We have a lot of minor crime issues that need to be dealt with." Roddam�s resignation followed his re-election by write-in votes Nov. 7 on an empty ballot. He said he did not run and did not want to reassume the position because he "just hadn�t gotten the results" he wanted as mayor. After considering Ryan�s application at their February meeting, council members declined to make an appointment but decided instead to declare the seat available and hold a May election, said City Recorder Tony Paxton. "They chose to let the citizenry decide instead of six council members," he said. Ryan said he would file for the position before the March 12 deadline. The city charter allows the mayoral seat to remain vacant until declared otherwise, Paxton said. The council originally decided to postpone filling the position because there were no interested candidates and it wanted to avoid paying $900 to "run a blank ballot" in the March or May elections. But Ryan�s application showed there was an interest. "We figured at least we had some interest now. At least someone wanted it," Paxton said. Ryan, 40, said his goals as mayor would be to promote the hospitality and tourism business, increase revenue and make the city safer for children. Ryan, who has been involved with the Chamber of Commerce in Jacksonville, said he felt his many years of management experience "would be an asset to the city." "They need somebody up there, and it has to be the right person," he said. "I�m not stating that has to be myself. If anybody else has as much interest in the town, I welcome them to run. A good city council needs a good mayor," said Ryan. Candidates for the May election must be registered voters, live in the city for one year prior to election and submit an application with the city by March 12. Until the position is filled, duties of the mayor will be performed by council president Scott Eilefson. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.