QuickTake:

Residents interested in being considered for the position of Ward 5 interim councilor can submit an application to the city manager’s office by Oct. 8.

Victoria Doyle, Springfield’s Ward 5 city councilor, resigned last month, and the council is beginning the process of appointing an interim member to replace her. 

On Monday, Sept. 8, the council held a public hearing for community members to provide comments about the process of appointing an interim councilor, which is required by council policies. 

Elliott Harwell of Springfield gave the lone public comment, saying it would be nice to know the historical context of how the council makes appointments to empty positions. 

“I would also urge the council to understand that the actions they take tonight are setting an example for the future,” Harwell said.

Mayor Sean VanGordon said the council made changes to their operating procedures a few years ago to establish the process and public hearing for appointments.

“We adopted a wholesale change to our operating rules to make sure that we actively solicited public input,” VanGordon said. 

The council voted unanimously to approve the appointment process outlined by the city attorney’s office. It is the same process the council used to appoint Councilor Beth Blackwell to Ward 4 in 2023, city attorney Mary Bridget Smith said. 

Doyle was elected in 2022 and had represented Ward 5 since January 2023. She submitted her resignation to the council Aug. 7, citing “increased responsibilities with her employer and a desire to prioritize family commitments.” 

The interim councilor will serve out the remainder of Doyle’s term, which expires Dec. 31, 2026. Candidates for the job need to reside in Ward 5, which encompasses an area in east Springfield between 42nd Street and Bob Straub Parkway. 

The Ward 5 position will be on the May 2026 primary election ballot, and the interim councilor could run for the seat, Smith said. The councilor selected in May (or at a run-off election in November) will begin serving in January 2027.

Applications for the vacant seat are due to the city manager’s office by Oct. 8. 

At an Oct. 13 work session, councilors will evaluate applications and decide by consensus the candidates they want to interview.

Councilors will interview candidates, deliberate and vote on an interim councilor at an Oct. 20 work session. A majority vote of the council is required. The council will swear in the new interim member on Oct. 27.

Work sessions are open for the public to attend but not to make comments.