Mount Pleasant council appoints Molly Brotherson to a vacant seat after six interviews

The Mount Pleasant City Council appointed Molly Brotherson to a vacant council seat on Oct. 19 after interviewing six applicants at a special meeting, according to the meeting minutes. Mayor Michael Olsen thanked Jake Howcroft for his service on the council; the minutes do not say why the seat was vacant. ^[1]

The applicants were Jim Wilberg, Brotherson, Ron Phelps, Eddie Shelley, Dan Simons and Sterling Whipple. Each had up to three minutes to introduce themselves, and each of the four councilmembers then asked one prepared question, which applicants answered in up to two minutes. The questions covered applicants' motivation, the most important issues facing the city, how to make unpopular decisions, and how to balance growth with community character and infrastructure. ^[1]

Councilmembers voted by signed paper ballot, with the city recorder reading each vote aloud. In the first round, Russell Keisel and Rondy Black voted for Brotherson, Cade Beck voted for Whipple and D. Lynn Beesley abstained, so no applicant had a majority and the other four were dropped. In the second round Keisel, Black and Beesley voted for Brotherson and Beck for Whipple. A roll call confirmed the appointment 4-0, and the meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m. ^[1]

Olsen told those attending that a tie would have been handled under the mayor's statutory tie-breaking authority and the city's adopted tie-breaking ordinance. Questions and comments from the audience were not taken during the interviews. ^[1]