If you would like to be an at-large member of the Greensboro City Council but don’t want to go through the expense and hassle of running a citywide race, here is your chance.

The Greensboro City Council started accepting online applications for the open seat on the Greensboro City Council on Friday, Aug. 20 and will continue to accept through until Thursday, Sept. 9 at 11:59 p.m.

The opening on the City Council was created when Michelle Kennedy, who was elected in 2017, resigned her seat on the City Council to accept the job of director of the Neighborhood Development Department.  Kennedy applied for the job as Neighborhood Development Department director while she was on the City Council and was conditionally offered the job.  The condition was that Kennedy resign from the City Council before accepting the job.

The requirements for applying for a seat on the City Council are pretty basic.  You have to be a resident of Greensboro, which means you live inside the city limits, and you have to be a registered voter of voting age.

The application itself also is not complicated: name, address, number of years at that address, phone number and email address.

There is one yes or no question, “Have you served as an elected official before?”

And then a few questions that require written answers.  “Please list any community organizations or City of Greensboro boards/commissions/programs you have participated in.”

“Please explain why you are interested in serving on the Greensboro City Council.”

and

“Please list any other pertinent information you would like for the City Council to know.”

Then listed as optional you are invited to “upload” your resume.

All those who submit a completed application will have the opportunity to speak to the City Council at a special meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 14.  The Sept. 14 meeting is not listed on either of the City Council meeting calendars and no time for that meeting is included in the announcement.  Regular City Council meetings usually begin at 5:30 p.m. but there is no usual time for special meetings.  So if you are applying you might want to check that out to make sure you don’t miss your opportunity to speak to the City Council.  It takes a majority vote of the City Council to be appointed, which means you only need five votes – a lot less than it takes to win an election.

Two members of the current City Council originally were appointed to fill vacancies and then won elections to full terms.  In 2015, District 3 City Councilmember Justin Outling was appointed to replace Zack Matheny, who resigned to become president of Downtown Greensboro Inc (DGI).  Outling won the 2015 election and was reelected in 2017.

District 2 City Councilmember Goldie Wells was appointed in 2017 to replace Jamal ,Fox who resigned to move to Oregon.  Wells then won election to a four-year term in 2017.  Wells had been the District 2 councilmember from 2005 to 2009 but did not run for reelection in 2009.

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