CALEB WARNOCK AND LAURA GILES - Daily Herald | Posted: Wednesday, July 4, 2007 11:00 pm
Pleasant Grove is looking for a new city council member.
Darold McDade resigned on June 30 to begin his position as a judge with the Utah 4th District Court.
Until his appointment by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and the state Legislature, McDade had worked at the Attorney General's Office as section chief in the Family Support Division. He's also been a small claims judge for the past three years.
McDade, a member of the Shoshone tribe, is a member of the Utah Bar Association, Nevada Indian Bar Association and Navajo Bar Association. He has said his experience and background will hopefully broaden his understanding as a judge.
At a recent council meeting -- his last with the city -- he said he was giving up his elected position only reluctantly.
"I look forward to the new challenges ahead," he told council members. "I vow to continue to be involved with the goings-on of the city as much as I can."
He thanked the city staff and his family for their support of his work with the city.
"Much has been accomplished," said McDade of the past eight years as he has served on the council. "My main goal was to always make sure the employees were taken care of. We've got good people."
The city is now looking for someone to take McDade's place and serve until Jan. 7, 2008. The city will soon begin advertising the position, and council members could interview candidates and vote on a replacement on July 31.
A month is needed to spread word of the vacancy and accept applications, said Mayor Mike Daniels. If a large number of applicants apply, the city may need two weeks to complete the interviews, which will be held during council meetings.
Council members are paid $600 a month.
Applicants should expect to put in several hours in meetings each week, he said.
"And that is just getting started," he said. "There is also preparation time. They should read the materials provided by the city and become familiar with city and state law with respect to their responsibilities so they know what they should and should not be doing."
In making their choice, council members will look for candidates who are not "single-issue people," Daniels said: "We are looking for people who have broad-based interests and are not looking to represent one special interest group."
Applicants should apply whether they intend to run for election for the seat or not, he said. Those who do intend to run for election should be aware that they need to file candidacy papers with the city now, and spend the time to both campaign and get up to speed on issues on the council's agenda.
"That will take a lot of time," Daniels said. "They are going to not only have to convince the City Council (to appoint them) but the public through campaigning and their actions on the council."
To qualify, an individual must be a registered voter and have been a resident of Pleasant Grove for the past 365 days. A written letter of interest, which should include name, address, phone number and a list of qualifications, should be submitted to the city recorder at City Hall, 70 S. 100 East.
Letters of interest will be accepted until 5 p.m., July 20.
A candidate's application for the interim position does not qualify that same person for candidacy in the municipal election, said city recorder Amanda Fraughton.
A separate Declaration of Candidacy must be filed by July 16 with the city recorder to be a candidate for the 2007 Municipal Election.
Caleb Warnock can be reached at 443-3263 or cwarnock@heraldextra.com.
This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C1.