At 6 p.m. Monday, one nameplate was conspicuously missing around the Orem City Council bench.

By 6:10 p.m., the nameplate was still missing, but there was a face to fill the seat. Margaret Black, a long-time Orem resident and piano teacher to one of the other applicants, was unanimously chosen to finish Stephen Sandstrom's term. Sandstrom resigned in December after being elected to the Utah House of Representatives.

Black, surrounded by congratulatory people after the short meeting before she was out the door to meet her family for dinner, said she was surprised at the meeting last week when all 10 applicants introduced themselves to the City Council. Camille Harris, one of her piano students, was in the bunch.

Each was excited to see the other, and even though Black ended up with the seat, 18-year-old Harris was glad of the choice.

Black admitted to being glad too, although as she left with homework, she acknowledged it will be difficult.

"There's so much I don't know," she said.

She decided to apply for the position because she's been involved with the city for years. Black has been a neighborhood chairwoman, on the street lighting committee and her school's PTA, has been the neighborhood community emergency response team coordinator, and has been involved in other community committees and projects. It's in her nature, she said.

"I've had a taste of what it's like to meet citizens' concerns and address their needs," she said. "I like to make things better."

She has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Brigham Young University and is a homemaker and piano teacher. She grew up in Provo but has lived in Orem for 28 years with her husband and their six children, all of whom still live in the area and encouraged her to apply.

Those factors helped convince the City Council as well, Mayor Jerry Washburn said. While the other applicants were also involved, Black just stood out.

"She has been actively involved in many significant projects in the community for many years," he said.

The decision was the end of about a week filled with meetings, both open and closed. Washburn began the special meeting by saying how hard the decision was because all of the applicants were qualified. He encouraged them to continue taking part in community affairs.

"As we said last time, the very fact that you have expressed your willingness is significant," he said.

Black will be sworn in at tonight's meeting; there will also be a reception for her at 5:30 p.m. in the rotunda area of the city center.

Heidi Toth can be reached at 344-2543 or htoth@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.