3 people express interest in open Jefferson City Ward 2 seat ahead of nominations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) 

The Jefferson City Council is set to take the next step Monday night in filling a vacant Ward 2 seat, continuing a multi-step process that could lead to a replacement being selected later this month.

The vacancy was created following former Councilman Aaron Mealy’s resignation in March. Mealy, who was elected in 2023 and had one year remaining in his term, cited concerns over “trust, honesty, and accountability issues with city hall administration” in his resignation email. His replacement will serve the remainder of that term.

Under the city’s process, council members are expected to nominate candidates during Monday night’s meeting. Each nomination must receive a second from another council member to move forward. Those nominees will then have until the end of the week to file a formal statement of candidacy with the city clerk, including a cover letter and resume.

Under the current city ordinance, Jefferson City must also hold a public session between April 10-20. During the council’s March 16 meeting, the council voted 8-1 to hold that session on April 13. During that public session, candidates will have an opportunity to address and answer questions from the city council.

During the April 13 hearing, candidates will have the opportunity to answer questions from the council. The council is expected to vote on a replacement by April 20, with a simple majority required to fill the seat.

So far, three letters of interest have been submitted to the city clerk.

Those include Alicia Edwards, Edith Vogel and Cody Holts. 

According to the letters submitted, Edwards currently serves as the executive director of Building Community Bridges. Vogel, a lifelong Jefferson City resident, represented Ward 2 on the council from 1999-2007. Holts wrote in his letter he moved to Jefferson City for law school and now works as an attorney with Dodson and Waters LLC while also serving on the Jefferson City Homeless Task Force.

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