What if they gave an election and nobody came? Watonga is about to find out.
A vacancy on the city council occurred when Debbie McGee resigned her seat in December. The city accepted letters of interest for a two-week window, but only one resident expressed interest and that was after the window had closed.
The city called for a special election, but no one filed for the seat. It may now, according to state statute, be filled by appointment. However, the appointee must meet the same requirements as a candidate, that is, they must live in the ward they represent.
Ward #2 is bound on the west by Clarence Nash Boulevard, on the south just north of Lucky Star Casino and bound on the east by the AT&L railroad tracks to Pizza Hut, where it widens to the east to S. Burford Avenue. It then commences north to East Russworm, where it narrows to Weigle Avenue. That boundary runs to East Fourth Street, the shoots west to the alley of the block between Fourth and Fifth streets. At Fifth it goes east again to Noble Avenue and runs to Seventh Street. At seventh it hikes west again to the alley between Seventh and Eighth streets then doglegs along Eighth Street to Leach Avenue, then north to Ninth Street. At Ninth Street it runs west to Market Avenue where it ends.
If a resident in that area is interested in representing the ward on city council, they should contact city hall or a sitting member of the city council.