HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Hutchinson City Council is currently accepting applications for consideration as they decide who will fill two unexpired council terms that run through the end of 2023. After At-large Councilwoman Sara Bagwell resigned her seat at the December 20 meeting to allow her to spend more time focused on her family, an agenda item was added to the January 3 meeting concerning how that position would be filled. During the Council’s discussion today, Northeast District Councilwoman Jade Piros de Carvalho notified council of her intention to resign her seat after the January 17 council meeting.
“Serving on the Hutchinson City Council has been one of the great honors of my life,” said Piros de Carvalho. “I am so grateful for the opportunities that my hometown has given me and for the time that I have been entrusted to serve our community in this way.”
Piros de Carvalho was appointed as the Director of Broadband Expansion for the State of Kansas this summer and has been spending three days a week in Topeka while continuing to reside in Hutchinson. In February, she and her family will be relocating to be closer to her work.
Both the at-large and Northeast district positions will run through 2023 and be up for re-election in November. The Northeast district seat is elected for a four-year term, while the at-large position is elected every two years.
“Our first priority is to get the Council back up and functioning as a five-member governing body,” said Mayor Jon Richardson. “If you are interested and able to serve, you should absolutely apply, but be aware that those applications are public record. Also, the discussion and selection of candidates will all take place in open meetings.”
Richardson further encouraged those who are interested in being considered to reach out to past council members for a better understanding of what is entailed in serving on council.
Due to the 2020 Census, the boundaries for council districts are set to change yet this month. The proposed district map is available on hutchgov.com.
To apply:
Go to www.hutchgov.com/CityCouncil and fill out the Application for Consideration and upload a Statement of Substantial Interest. There is an opportunity to upload a resume as well, but it is optional.
Eligibility:
• Candidates seeking election to represent a specific district must have been residents of the district for which they seek election (for the at-large position this includes all of Hutchinson) for at least six months prior to their election and continue to reside in the district during their term of office.
• All candidates must be citizens of the United States and qualified electors of the city, meaning that at the time of the election they must be a registered voter in the city and within their district.
• No governing body member shall hold any other city office or city employment during the term for which the member was elected to the governing body.
• No former governing body member shall hold any compensated appointive city office or city employment until one year after the expiration of the term for which the member was elected.
Timeline:
Applications are due by the end of business January 11 and will be discussed at the January 17 council meeting. New members are expected to be sworn in February 7.
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