Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Local business owner will complete Hansen's four-year term
New Davenport city councilmember Jonathan Chapman (right) takes the Oath of Office from Mayor Brad Sweet (left). Chapman was chosen from a panel of four candidates interviewed to fill a council vacancy at council's Feb. 9 meeting.
DAVENPORT-City council had a vacancy for one of its seats since Nathan Hansen resigned in November due to a move outside city limits. That vacancy was finally filled at council's Feb. 9 meeting, when local businessman and resident Jonathan Chapman was selected from four candidates to fulfill the remainder of Hansen's term.
The four applicants for the advertised position were Chapman, Robert Jenkins, Marjorie Stemmelin and Barbara Vincent-O'Connor.
Five councilmembers were present for the meeting. During the interview portion, each candidate was asked one question by each councilmember while other candidates waited in a separate room.
Chief amongst questions was the topic of city growth, where each interviewee offered various perspectives.
Jenkins, who works at Lincoln Hospital, was the first candidate interviewed. He said he hopes to see booming growth in the city in the next five years.
Vincent-O'Connor, meanwhile, also favored growth, "but not too fast." Stemmelin said the city needs to have more employment opportunities, businesses and housing to address growth.
Chapman, co-owner of Davenport Sporting Goods and the lead I.T. director at Lincoln Hospital, was the final interviewee. He said the city needs more businesses, services, organization and clubs to promote further community involvement.
Council then went into a 15-minute executive session to discuss a potential selection while the four candidates awaited the final decision.
Upon their return to a public setting, councilmember Lance Strite, who originally told Chapman of the council vacancy, motioned for Chapman to be the selection. The motion was approved unanimously, and mayor Brad Sweet swore Chapman into his new position.
Chapman then took his seat as an official councilmember.
The action to select Chapman to fill Hansen's seat was council's lone action item under new business at the meeting. Chapman's term will fulfill the remaining two years of Hansen's four-year term and expire at the end of 2024. If Chapman wishes to serve on council longer than those two years, he will have to file and run for re-election in Nov. 2024.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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