Xenia City Council Announces Process to fill Council Vacancy
Xenia, Ohio (December 11, 2020) – The recent passing of Council Vice President Dr. Edgar Wallace has left a vacancy on the City Council. As the community continues to mourn the loss of Dr. Wallace, City Council must begin the process to fill the vacancy, which has to be done within 60 days. Xenia City Council President Wesley Smith announced at the December 10th meeting that Council will entertain resumes and cover letters from qualified candidates for appointment to the vacant Council seat. Three years remain in the term of the vacated seat (expiring on December 31, 2023); however, per §4.05 of the City Charter, the appointed member only shall serve until December 31, 2021, and the remaining two years of the unexpired term (January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023) will be filled by a vote of the electorate at the November 2, 2021, general election.
Per City Charter §4.05, City Council appoints vacated seats per the following criteria:
* A vacancy on Council is to be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members (4 of 6).
* As noted above, the vacancy is to be filled within 60 days from the date the vacancy occurred.
* To meet the 60-day requirement, the position will need to be filled no later than January 31, 2021.
* Council may appoint anyone who meets the qualifications for candidates for City Council, which are as follows:
o Candidate has all the qualifications to be a voter in the City;
o Candidate has been an actual resident of the City for at least two years immediately preceding the appointment
o Candidate holds no other elected office in Greene County, the State of Ohio, or the United States.
Prospective Council candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Michelle Johnson, City Clerk, City of Xenia, 107 E. Main Street, Xenia, Ohio 45385, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to include the following minimum information:
Documentation of residency and voter registration, including home address;
Date(s) of residency;
Current employer and position;
Past and current participation in public service and private organization memberships, not including those associated with religious affiliations;
Statement on whether the candidate or candidate’s employer provides services or products to the City or if the candidate is related to any existing City employee either by blood or marriage;
Personal limitations on ability to attend evening meetings; and
A statement about why the candidate wishes to be appointed to the City Council.
Prospective candidates should consider that the City Council meets at least twice a month for Regular Meetings on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 6:00 p.m. Council may also conduct Special Meetings at other times as deemed necessary. All applicants will be required to complete an Authority to Release Information form for a background check.
The deadline for submittal of resumes and cover letters is 5 p.m. on Monday, December 21, 2020. Interviews with selected applicants will be scheduled immediately upon receipt of the requested information, verification of residency and voter registration, and receipt of a completed Authority to Release Information form. The selected candidate will be appointed at a Council meeting on or before January 28, 2021.
Please contact Council President Wesley Smith at (937) 620-5931 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or City Clerk Michelle Johnson at (937) 376-7235 with any questions you may have.
