Five applicants express interest in Morgantown Council opening
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MORGANTOWN - According to the city of Morgantown, five individuals have expressed interest in serving out Brian Butcher's term as the 7th Ward representative on Morgantown City Council.
As of the Aug. 21 deadline, the city had received statements of interest from Vincent Kang, Kirsten Nelson, Gail Taylor, Mimi Wilson and Annie Cronan Yorick.
Butcher announced in late July that he was resigning from council because his family was finalizing the purchase of a home in another ward.
Butcher's term ends June 30, 2027. The city will hold a municipal election for council's 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th wards on April 27. The winners will be sworn in on July 1.
Following its review of the submitted statements of interest, Morgantown City Council anticipates conducting interviews with applicants on Sept. 1 or Sept. 15, or another date deemed convenient.
According to information provided by the city, council is expected to appoint one of the applicants to fill the vacancy during its public meeting on Sept. 29.
Butcher, who's represented the 7th Ward since July 1, 2021, will participate in his final council meeting Tuesday evening.
Listed on the meeting agenda is an executive session regarding the 7th Ward opening.
Morgantown Mayor Danielle Trumble said council will discuss the submitted applications and determine which applicants will be asked to sit for interviews.
The last time Morgantown City Council appointed someone to fill a council seat was 2021, when it actually happened twice.
In March 2021, the body interviewed three applicants before selecting Deborah Bergen to serve the last three months or so of former 3rd Ward Councilor Zack Cruze's term.
Just over four months later, council held a special meeting to appoint a 1st Ward representative after Patrick Hathaway won the seat in the April 2021 election but notified the city days later that he would not be able to serve. Of the five candidates interviewed, current Councilor Joe Abu-Ghannam was selected.
Butcher previously said he does not intend to run for city council in his new ward.