Council candidates to interview Monday

ROSEBURG, Ore. – The Roseburg City Council will interview candidates for a City Council vacancy and possibly appoint someone to replace former Councilor Brian Prawitz Monday, July 24.

The City Council will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday to interview six candidates for the Ward 3 vacancy created when Councilor Brian Prawitz resigned Monday, June 26, after accepting a position as Executive Director of the Umpqua Economic Development Partnership. Candidates to fill his seat must live in Ward 3 in Southwest Roseburg.

Seven people applied. However, only six are qualified to apply because the seventh doesn’t live in Ward 3: Michael Fieldman, Daniel Endicott, Kevin Wene′, Tom Michalek, Thomas Dole and Celia Vander Velden.

The Mayor and Councilors are non-salaried, volunteer positions elected by Roseburg residents. Roseburg is divided into four wards with two Council members each. Councilors serve a four-year term with one Council position in each ward up for election every two years. The Mayor, who presides over Council meetings, is elected at large for a two-year term.

The Roseburg City Council meets at 7 p.m. on second and fourth Mondays as well as for special meetings. As the elected legislative body for the City, the City Council is responsible for the scope, direction and financing of City services. The Council is also responsible for establishing land use policies and zoning regulations.

The Council establishes local law and policy that is administered and implemented by City staff under the council-city manager form of government. The Council gives policy direction to the City Manager, who’s responsible for administering City operations. In setting policy, the Council works closely with citizen-advisory commissions and committees, considers City staff information and recommendations, and takes input from interested parties and the public. Councilors also attend other meetings and may chair a City commission.

The Council may appoint a replacement at the 7 p.m. City Council meeting after interviews are held or seek additional candidates to consider at a later date. The Council will appoint a replacement to serve until December 31, 2024, when Prawitz’s term was set to expire. The seat will be up for election in November 2024.

Council meetings can be watched in person or via the City website at https://bit.ly/3vPEoN7 or facebook.com/cityofroseburg. Or watch the meeting video the next day through the City website. Public comments can be made in person during the meeting, by emailing info@cityofroseburg.org by 12 p.m. the day of the meeting; or via Zoom by contacting 541-492-6866 or info@cityofroseburg.org by 12 p.m. the day of the meeting.