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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, May 19, 2008 Page 11 familiar with issues and be able to hit the ground running; and someone who had a demonstrated history of working well with others. Councilmember Ihlan opined that it was not the City Council's job to choose, but the voter's choice; and therefore opined that the City Council should look to the results of the last election, and the person receiving the second highest vote total, as representative of the citizen majority and the democratic process. Council- member Ihlan noted that, since her motion for a special election had failed to re- ceive asecond at previous meetings, the next best thing was to rely on the most democratic process. Mayor Klausing questioned Councilmember Ihlan's selective interpretation of re- cent municipal elections and the will of the community. Councilmember Pust disagreed with Councilmember Ihlan's opinion that appoint- ing an interim to the vacancy was not the City Council's job; opining that it was specifically their job, noting that this was not an election, and that if it was, it would be the voter's job. Councilmember Pust noted that she had supported a Special Election until consideration of timing and costs determined that it would not be feasible so close to the upcoming fall elections and filing period. Coun- cilmember Pust opined that the voters didn't have a job tonight, while recognizing previous election results, bur further opining that the City Council was doing their job and was not usurping the voter's job tonight. Councilmember Roe, regarding the appointment of someone not running again, understood and respected arguments of both Mayor Klausing and Councilmember Ihlan; however, opined that to provide the best opportunity for voters to get their choice for the next Councilmember, the City Council should not inject themselves into the process by suggesting the person the Council thought the citizens should vote for, based on previous elections. Councihnember Roe opined that was why he was speaking in support of appointment of someone not intending to run for the election, noting that the previous electoral process was not indicative of public majority support, with him having lost three times prior to his election. Council- member,Roe opined that the best process to let voters make a choice is to not pick someone intending to run in the upcoming election, to provide an even contest, based on fairness and a political point of view. Mayor opened the meeting up for public comment at this time. Public Comment Jeff Johnson, Interim Candidate. Mr. Johnson indicated, for the record, that he was withdrawing his name from the interim candidate pool, announcing that it was his intent to run for the vacant Council seat in the upcoming municipal election.