Procedure to fill vacancy on city council.
Columbus City Codes § 111.35
in effect111.35 - Procedure to fill vacancy on city council.
(a) Applications. If a vacancy occurs on city council, the council shall accept applications to fill the vacancy. Applications shall be filed with the city clerk in a form prescribed by the clerk. After determining whether applicants meet the eligibility requirements for office under Section 6 of the Columbus City Charter, the clerk shall publish a list of qualified applicants to fill the vacancy.
(b) Interviews. Members of city council may, at their discretion and individually, interview any of the applicants qualified under division (a) of this section.
(c) Finalists. After any interviews performed by individual members of city council, each member of city council shall forward up to three names to the city clerk as finalists for appointment. The clerk shall compile a list of the names of the finalists and publish the same.
(d) Public Hearing. Council shall hold, at a minimum, one public hearing at which a quorum of members must be present and at which public comment on candidates shall be accepted. Testimony shall be limited to the qualifications of, and support or opposition to, candidates for the vacancy and shall comply with the requirements of Section 111.12.
(e) Appointment. Subsequent to the public hearing required in division (d) of this section, city council shall vote to fill the vacancy.
(f) Multiple vacancies. Should more than one vacancy occur on the council, the council may follow the procedures herein to fill all vacancies, subject to a separate public hearing under division (d) for each appointment, or may follow the procedures herein for each separate vacancy.
(Ord. No. 2546-2018, § 1, 10-1-2018)
Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT1ADCO_CH111CICO_111.35PRFIVACOFetched: 10/27/2026