Applications for open seat accepted until Dec. 1

The race to fill an upcoming opening on the Columbus City Council starts Monday.

That’s when the council will begin accepting applications for the opening that will occur when Council President Zach Klein becomes city attorney in January. The deadline to apply is noon Dec. 1.

Klein was elected as the next city attorney on Nov. 7, but his council term doesn’t end until 2019. The remaining council members will appoint a replacement to complete his term.

Klein outlined the process for selecting his replacement in a memo Friday to the six other council members. In it, Klein said that he will not participate in selecting his replacement.

Applicants must submit to the city clerk eight copies of a resume and a 500-word letter explaining the greatest challenges and opportunities that Columbus faces. The materials must be turned in at City Hall before the deadline. The applications cannot be emailed or faxed.

Once the application period is over, council members can schedule individual interviews with the candidates. Each council member must submit three finalists to the city clerk by Dec. 15. The council will meet to interview the finalists in an executive session on Dec. 18.

The council then will meet on Jan. 8 to appoint the new member. That would allow the new council member to be seated in time to vote during the Jan. 22 meeting.

Appointments to the council have been a point of controversy. Advocates for eliminating the process say it creates an unfair advantage for the appointee when he or she runs in the subsequent election.