Matt Lasley | News-Gazette
Newly-appointed Leitchfield City Council Member Margie Decker (right) was sworn in by City Attorney Kenneth Smart (left) during the Monday, June 17 Council meeting.
Margie Decker was appointed to the Leitchfield City Council during the regularly-scheduled Monday, June 17 meeting.
During the meeting, Leitchfield Mayor William Thomason presented the names of the six applicants who wanted to be considered to fill Steven Elder’s recently vacated seat.
The applicants included (in alphabetical order) Ryan Bratcher, Howard Decker, Margie Decker, Nick Ramsey, Leon Shaw, and Kelly Stevenson.
After the applicants’ names were presented, Thomason gave the five remaining Council members the opportunity to discuss who would be best suited to fill the open Council seat.
Council member Jerry Schlosser motioned to appoint Margie Decker to fill the seat, based on her being earning seventh place in the 2012 election - one spot away from being elected to the Council.
Council member William Dallas hesitated to support Schlosser’s motion on the grounds that he didn’t know Margie Decker or her policies and opinions for the city.
“I don’t know where you stand on issues,” Dallas said. “We are liasons to this community. It’s a huge commitment to be a leader in this community. I’m disappointed I haven’t had the chance to talk to you. I don’t know your position on things.”
Margie Decker, who has worked in retail for 25 years, said she had attempted to contact Dallas but had been unable to reach him.
“I’ve worked at Wal-Mart for twenty years; I’ve been in the community for nearly forty years,” Margie Decker, who is also Co-Chair of the local Relay for Life, said. “I don’t know why people don’t know who I am.
After the discussion ended, the Council voted on whether they wished to add Margie Decker to the Council or if they wished to wait, for the Council had up to thirty days to make its decision.
In a three-to-two vote - with Council Members Harold Miller, Jerry Schlosser, and Margaret Fey voting for, and William Dallas and Raymond Cottrell voting against - Margie Decker was voted to fill the vacant City Council seat and, thereafter, was sworn into office by Leitchfield City Attorney Kenneth Smart.
On her appointment, Margie Decker said, “I’m really excited about working with the City Councilmen. I’ve worked here all my married life. I’ve lived here for forty years, and I want to make the city a better place.”
Post a Comment
