Two council members apply to be North Liberty’s next mayor

NORTH LIBERTY - Two members of the North Liberty City Council have applied to be appointed the city's mayor.

Mayor Pro Tem Terry Donahue and council member Chris Hoffman submitted applications to be considered for the vacant mayor position. The council is expected to appoint a new mayor when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the North Liberty City Council Chambers, 1 Quail Creek Circle.

Once the appointment is made, residents have 14 days to file a petition, which needs 26 signatures, to trigger a special election to choose a new mayor. The City Council voted 3-2 last month to appoint a new mayor.

If a special election comes to pass and residents ultimately elect a new mayor, that person would serve a term that ends Dec. 31. To retain the seat beyond that, they'd have to be elected again in November.

If no special election is held, the mayor appointed to the position would serve a term that ends after the official canvassing of votes following the November election. To retain the seat beyond that, the appointed mayor would have to be elected in November.

If the council appoints Donahue or Hoffman, the same process would essentially be followed to fill the open council seat. If residents file a petition to trigger a special election for the council seat and an appointed mayor still is serving, then the mayor position would also be on that ballot because an appointed mayor can only serve until the next election.

Donahue has been fulfilling the mayor duties since former Mayor Amy Nielsen resigned Dec. 31 following her election to represent District 77 in the Iowa House of Representatives.

In his application, Donahue touts to his experience in local government, which includes nine years as a North Liberty City Council member and 14 years as mayor of Creston in Union County.

Hoffman has served on the council for nearly 10 years. He works in business development for Moxie Solar and often works with other entities such as businesses and municipalities, according to his application.

Hoffman said in his application he's previously abstained from votes that present a potential conflict of interest with his work and, if appointed mayor, his 'deliberations will be handled in the same manner.”

North Liberty's mayor earns a salary of $5,000 per year while council members earn $50 per meeting, according to Nick Bergus, the city's communications director.

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