Nine apply for empty City Council seat

Last edited 1:52 p.m., Jan. 23, 2012

Nine people filed applications with the Springfield city clerk's office by the Jan. 20 deadline to fill the City Council seat left vacant by the Jan. 4 resignation of Zone 1 Councilman Nick Ibarra.

The applicants, in alphabetical order, are:

• Richard Buchli, an adjunct instructor of political science for Ozarks Technical Community College;
• Mary Collette, co-owner of historic renovation organization Collette Parker Restoration and a former City Council member;
• Raymond Hassen, retired former owner of Ray's Lounge;
• Arthur Hodge Sr., retired from the U.S. Army;
• Jeanette McKinney, adjunct history instructor at Drury University;
• Jeff Paul, owner of Jeff's Yard & Garden;
• Crystal Quade, field representative for Community Blood Center of the Ozarks;
• Jeff Seifried, manager of regional development for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce; and
• Bob Vanaman, retired contractor and former City Council member, November 1996-April 2001.

City Council members at a noon luncheon tomorrow will narrow down the applicants to line up finalists for in-person interviews. Council would then host a series of interviews with finalists in a public meeting. The person selected will fill the vacant seat, which has a term through April 2013, according to a news release.[[In-content Ad]]