City Council looks for candidates for Dow seat

Havre City Council may decide in early May who will succeed City Councilman Rick Dow when he moves to Minnesota.

But lots of questions remain about how long the new councilman will serve.

Dow, a Third Ward Republican, will formally step down after the Monday, April 15, meeting.

The council will formally advertise for applications in the next two weeks, and will set up times for interviews at the April 15 meeting. The city will also notify the chairs of the Republican and Democratic parties of the vacancy.

"I'm sure we will have tons of people jumping at the opportunity," said Councilman Jerry Veis, alluding to the difficulty both political parties have had in attracting candidates in recent years.

People should submit applications to City Clerk Doug Kaercher, Mayor Tim Solomon said.

Applicants must live in the Third Ward, he said.

Although Dow is a Republican, council can appoint anyone to the post regardless of political affiliation. Once Dow departs, there will be four Democrats and three Republicans on council. Solomon, a Democrat, presides at council meetings.

It is unclear how long the new appointee will serve.

The new person may serve until the fall elections or may be in office until Dow's term expires in 2015. The council is seeking clarification from its lawyer.

The term of the Third Ward's other council member, Robert Kaftan, expires this year, and that seat will be on the ballot in November.

Complicating matters, city ward lines will be reapportioned as a result of the 2010 Census, meaning that the boundary line of the Third Ward may change before the elections.

The district has probably grown in population over the last decade because of annexation, City Councilman Andrew Brekke conjectured.

Hill County Clerk and Recorder Darla Dahl will redraw the lines, which must be ratified by council.