By Jaiya Brown, FOX23.com News Staff
BIXBY, Okla. — Bixby city leaders say rebuilding public trust remains a top priority as the city continues a months-long leadership transition and works to fill a key vacancy that could shape who becomes the next mayor.
The Ward 4 City Council seat opened after former Mayor Brad Girard resigned in May. Girard said he mishandled how the city dealt with it when police arrested City Manager Joey Wiedel multiple times for DUI.
With the seat vacant, the city is now taking applications and interviewing candidates to appoint a new council member. Eleven applicants remain after one recently dropped out.
On Monday night, the City Council interviewed the first six candidates in an open meeting. Five more candidates will be interviewed next month.
Acting Mayor Bobby Shutlz said the city charter requires the council to fill the vacancy through the appointment process.
“Because we’ve had a vacancy, then the city charter calls for us to do that. It’s like the US Constitution, that’s our governing document, and it can be changed, but it has to be changed by other people,” Shutlz said.
The appointment carries added weight because the new Ward 4 council member will help select Bixby’s next mayor. City leaders had previously delayed choosing the next mayor until all five council seats are filled.
Shutlz said recent controversies have also influenced the questions being asked of candidates, including whether anything in a candidate’s past could become an issue for the city.
“Well, one of the other questions that was asked last night, and I think it’s important, is, is there anything in your background that were to come forward with embarrassing you or the council or the citizens of Bixby,” Shutlz said.
He said the council is also asking candidates about relationships with city employees or council members in an effort to keep the process fair and transparent. Communication, problem-solving and community involvement are among the top qualities the council is looking for as it works to rebuild public trust.
“We’ve, we’ve hit a couple of road bumps, but we’re taking care of that, and we talk about adapting, adjusting, and overcoming, and that way we can move forward,” Shutlz said.
Shutlz said he understands the decision will leave some people unhappy.
“I know that there will be 10 people who are disappointed and one that’s happy, but it’ll all be done in front of the public,” he said.
The final five candidates will be interviewed July 9. The council is set to choose a new Ward 4 representative July 27, with the decision made in public.
