Gose to fill vacant Sunbury council seat

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Tim Gose has been appointed to fill a vacant seat on Sunbury Village Council.

Former council member Jennifer Ward did not seek re-election during the November election, and no other candidate ran for her seat on council.

During the past month, the village has accepted letters of interest from residents interested in serving a four-year council term. Four potential candidates surfaced — Gose, Charles Stanly, Joseph St. John and William Phillips.

During the Jan. 20 council meeting, each candidate had the opportunity to address council and answer questions. Three candidates were present; Phillips did not attend.

Typically there are six council members; in the event of a tie in any vote, Mayor Tommy Hatfield casts a vote as the tiebreaker.

With Ward’s seat empty and council member Tom Zalewski absent, a secret ballot resulted in a 2-2 tie between Gose and St. John – twice.

Following the two split votes, Hatfield had to make a choice, and selected Gose to serve on council.

During the brief interview process, Gose, a village resident since 1999 and a current member of the Village Planning & Zoning Commission, said he has a love and passion for the village.

“I have time to devote to the village now that my children are older,” Gose said. “I’m here to give something back to the community and serve. I’m a team player. I keep my emotions out of decisions and stick to the facts.”

Hatfield said the village would be blessed to have any one of the three candidates who were interviewed sit on council.

“When I made my decision to appoint Tim Gose to the open council seat, it wasn’t about tenure or quality of candidates,” Hatfield said. “You are all quality guys.”

Hatfield recommended that Stanley and St. John be available when other opportunities surface to serve the village.

Hatfield said Gose would be sworn in during either a Jan. 27 special council meeting or the Feb. 3 session.

By Lenny C. Lepola

For The Gazette

Lenny C. Lepola can be reached at 614-266-6093. Email: [email protected].

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