Mapleton's open council seat was filled Wednesday night by planning commission chairman Micheal Cobia.

"I can't make everybody happy with the way I may vote or may not vote, but what I will do is seek to vote in accordance to what the law allows," Cobia said.

Four applicants applied for the spot. They were Ben Christensen, Jim Larsen, Mike Cobia and Albert Harmer. In order to qualify for the spot, the applicant had to be a resident of Mapleton for at least one year and a registered voter.

Cobia was selected with no discussion from the council, after hearing the applicants' platforms and narrowing down the position from four to two applicants. After the two finalists -- Christensen and Cobia -- were announced, the council made a motion and unanimously approved Cobia to the council.

After he was announced as the new council member, Cobia said he would resign from his planning commission position. Cobia's membership in the planning commission was a strength in his application because he assisted in creating the city's general plan.

Still, Cobia said he wouldn't stick to the general plan should it be amended.

"I believe the people of the United States should obey the laws and if those laws are changed then I have a new set of rules to go by," he said.

Cobia has been a resident of Mapleton for 12 years. He has degrees in broadcast journalism and public relations. He was sworn in Wednesday night after the selection.

The seat became vacant July 5 when the City Council appointed former councilman Jim Brady to mayor after Dean Allan resigned in June.

The city followed close to the same process in choosing Cobia as they did in choosing Brady. The position was posted for two weeks, allowing residents to submit letters of intent or resumes. At the meeting, the council applicants were allowed up to five minutes to provide a platform agenda to the council. Then, the applicants answered questions from the council.

Unlike Brady's appointment, however, the applicants did not hear questions from residents, who packed the meeting.

"You don't know how many here are for one candidate or another," resident Richard Nixon said to the council. He said without being able to give his support, the meeting was a waste of time.

Brady said that he wanted those choosing the replacement to ask questions, and not make the appointment a popularity contest.

"It's a joke," resident Mike Nelson said as he walked out of the meeting.

Brady did not ask any questions to candidates, as he was not part of the selection committee.

Natalie Evans is available at 344-2561 or nevans@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page B10.