January 6, 2023 |
The City of Rawlins has announced a plan for filling the empty seat on the governing body after the winning candidate from Ward 2 chose not to take the oath of office this week at the start of the four-year term.
Tonya Lewman chose not to be sworn in after being accused of accepting an illegal campaign contribution in the amount of $300, which came in the form of a check from a local business. Lewman said she unknowingly made the mistake listed the corporate donation on a campaign finance report.
The city has announced the plan and to fill the vacant seat by next month.
Nominations will be accepted from Ward 2 residents from January 6 through January 20. All nominees must meet all eligibility requirements of an election, including Ward 2 residency. All nominees who accept nomination, or who nominate themselves, shall file an application with City Clerk Lynn Shearer.
When the nomination period closes and eligibility determined, all qualified candidates will be forwarded to the seated council. Qualified candidates will appear before the Rawlins City Council in an open and recorded session to interview for the vacancy.
With the assistance of staff and a public poll which is available online and in-person at City Hall, the candidates will be trimmed to three candidates. City council will enter executive session to deliberate on the three finalists.
Upon exiting executive session, the six-member council will nominate and vote on the finalists. The successful nominee will be seated and sworn in immediately.
The selected councilperson shall serve for a two-year term (2/2023 – 1/2025). During the next Rawlins Council election scheduled for November 2024, this seat will then be added to the ballot for a two-year term from 1/2025-1/2027. The seat will resume normal four-year rotation in 2027.
Pictured above: File photo of Rawlins City Hall. Photo by Cali O’Hare/Bigfoot 99.
