Though the Pleasant Grove City Council has an opening, council members may not decide to fill it because of the upcoming November election.

Councilman Darold McDade resigned July 30. He is now a 4th District Court judge.

The council has advertised the interim position, and six people are interested: George Church, Melissa Finch, Richard Ables, Barbara Wells, Peter Bowen and Jeff Wilson.

According to City Recorder Amanda Fraughton, the plan is for the applicants to be interviewed at the July 31 work session in the City Council chambers. After the interviews, the City Council will make its decision.

However, the City Council may decide to not go ahead with the interviews as planned. At July 17's City Council meeting, Mayor Michael W. Daniels asked the council members to think about if appointing a temporary member is the best thing to do for the city.

"Most of the applicants are also running for City Council in November's election. Two current members are running for re-election. If the council approves someone from the slate of candidates, are they doing that person a service or disservicefi" Daniels asked. Church, Ables, Wells, Bowen and Wilson are running for election in November.

The interim member would not automatically continue on the council after this year. He or she would have to run for election to continue with the council in 2008.

Another reason to possibly forego a temporary appointment is that the new member would have little time to make a contribution to the city.

"By the time the person steps in in August, does that give time to get in, become familiar, make a contribution and then all of a sudden, they are out of office," Daniels said.

According to Daniels, the council members have not yet responded, but will do so by Tuesday's meeting, which is when interviews are scheduled to take place.

"We just want to do what is right for the citizens," Daniels said.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.