By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Hoisington's Mike Davis wanted to serve his community so badly that he got on the city council twice. Sort of. In June, Davis was appointed to the Ward 3 council spot to fill the unexpired term of Shirley Kaiser-Miller, who moved out of the ward. Davis was incorrectly advised to get on the ballot for the November general election. He did, defeating James Morris by two votes 38-36. City Administrator Jonathan Mitchell said Davis will now have to vacate his current seat to take on his elected role on Jan. 8, 2024.
"I've been here with the city since 2009," Mitchell said. "This has not happened in my tenure with the city. It's really unique. I think it's exciting that we have people interested in filling these positions, and that our residents are getting out to vote, but in this case, it created a unique scenario where we need to appoint someone to fill his unexpired term."
Just as Davis was originally appointed to the council, the body is now seeking applicants to fill his unexpired term that expires in January 2025. Interested parties who live in Ward 3 can submit their applications at City Hall, 109 E. First St, or mail them to PO Box 418, Hoisington, KS, 67544.
"We'd like to have them by the 20th of December," Mitchell said. "The council would like to have a chance to evaluate them. At the first meeting in January, on Jan. 8, any of those candidates who were interested could come to the meeting and expound on why they'd like to be on the council. The council could potentially appoint someone as early as that meeting on Jan. 8."
Becky Steiner, Darren Reinert, and Aaron Braddy were elected to serve Wards 1, 2, and 4 during the general election.