Election to leave one empty seat in Othello

Councilmen Spohr, McKay seeking mayor's spot

OTHELLO — The makeup of much of the Othello City Council will be decided today, but city officials are seeking applicants for one seat they know will be open come January.

Councilman Marc Spohr and current Mayor Pro-Tem Shannon McKay are each seeking to permanently fill the mayoral spot opened up when Mayor Jeannie Sanders resigned earlier this year. Neither is up for re-election in their current seat, so the city will have one open spot no matter the outcome Tuesday. At their monthly workshop Monday night, council members asked that anyone interested in that council position write a letter of intent to the city within the next week.

"We encourage anybody who would like to sit on either Marc's or my council seat to mail their requests to the city," McKay said.

The council set a deadline of 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14 for the submission of letters of intent for applicants stating why they would like to serve at the post.

Councilwoman Eleanor Brodahl herself was originally appointed to the council, and suggested during Monday's workshop that each of the perspective candidates be interviewed during an open council meeting to let the current council know about their knowledge of issues facing the city.

"I would like to know if I'm appointing somebody that they know the issues," Brodahl said.

Council members will determine when to hold interviews for the open council spot at next Monday's meeting,

City Administrator Ehman Sheldon said. To qualify for the position, Sheldon said applicants have to have resided in the city limits for the last six months and must be 18 years of age.