Candidates for Ward 1 vacancy due March 10
NORTH WALES >> Borough officials have announced details of the timeline to fill the latest vacancy on council.
Those interested in doing so are asked to submit a letter of interest and resume by noon on March 10, the borough has announced.
On Feb. 14 council voted unanimously to accept the resignation of member Eion O’Neill, who was first elected to represent the town’s Ward 1 in 2017, reelected in 2021, and cited a pending engagement and move out of town as reasons for stepping down. At that time, borough officials said they would likely follow procedures similar to those they used during the last vacancy in January 2022, in which three candidates spoke about their backgrounds and qualifications during a meeting and one was then appointed, and would aim to fill the seat in time for six of the nine council seats to be on the ballot in this year’s May primary and November elections.
A subsequent Facebook post by the borough gave details: letters of interest and resumes will be accepted until noon on March 10 and can be dropped off or mailed to borough hall, 300 School Street North Wales PA 19454 or emailed to borough Manager Christine Hart at CHart@northwalesborough.org.
Requirements are posted on the borough’s website, and include that anyone interested must be a continuous resident of the town’s Ward 1 for at least one year prior to the appointment. That ward is the southern one-third of town bounded on the north by Main Street and a rail line and on the south by West Street on the border with Upper Gwynedd, and that ward casts votes at the North Wales Water Authority building at Walnut and Swartley Streets.
In 2017 O’Neill and current councilwoman Wendy McClure flipped two seats in that ward from red to blue, as both Democrats defeated incumbent Republicans Mike McDonald and John Davis; McClure and councilman Sherwin Collins then topped Republican Erick Myers for two seats from that ward in 2019.
Those who apply are also asked to submit a statement of financial interest, also available on the borough’s website, which is a four-page form required by the State Ethics Commission in which candidates list financial information.
“Borough council will conduct interviews of all qualified candidates at their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 14 at 7 p.m.,” said the borough. That meeting will be held at the borough municipal building, 300 School Street, as will the next council meeting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 28. For more information visit www.NorthWalesBorough.org.