The Seward City Council accepted the resignation of Tony Baclaan, who served on the city council and as the city’s vice mayor, during its Monday night meeting. The city is now recruiting applicants for the vacancy left by Baclaan, whose term was set to expire in 2022.
The council also nominated, elected and swore in the city’s new vice mayor — council member Sue McClure — during Monday’s meeting. Council member Liz DeMoss nominated council member Ristine Casagranda for the vice mayor position, while council member John Osenga nominated McClure. McClure secured the position by a vote of four to two.
Casagranda thanked DeMoss for the nomination and said she hopes city operations can continue to be “out on the table” as she said they were under Baclaan’s term as vice mayor.
“I just want to say that I hope that moving forward, that we all feel like information is disseminated equally and that we’re all privy to the same information from meetings and whatnot,” Casagranda said.
Baclaan announced his resignation from the city council during the council’s Oct. 11 meeting, during which he said he accepted a new job, which he said would interfere with his work as council member and vice mayor.
“This is not goodbye,” Baclaan said. “I will still try and be present in meetings as much as I can, to provide testimony and advice, to participate in work sessions and to use the knowledge that the people invested in me with their votes.”
Baclaan formally submitted his letter of resignation on the same night, according to the city council’s Oct. 25 meeting packet.
The city council will consider applications submitted by people interested in filling Baclaan’s seat during its Nov. 8 meeting. Completed application forms and financial disclosure and conflict of interest statements must be filed with the clerk on Nov. 8 by 5 p.m.
“Applicants may also submit a written cover letter regarding their qualifications and interest in serving on council, and are invited to attend the meeting in person and speak during the opening Citizen Comment period,” a city release says.
Monday’s meeting of the Seward City Council can be viewed on the city’s YouTube channel.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
