Nixa City Council appoints new member

Following Jay Farr’s November resignation from Nixa City Council, a familiar face was appointed to take the seat.

Former 14-year Councilman Tom Maher will fill the vacant District 1 seat until the April election. Effective Dec. 31, Farr and his family purchased property outside city limits, necessitating the resignation.

City spokeswoman Jill Finney said council solicited letters of interest from residents willing to fill the void, and received four, but opted to wait until the election filing closed on Jan. 19 to make a selection.

“They didn’t want to give anyone an unfair advantage if they also were going to run for the seat in April,” she said.

Maher was sworn in during council’s Jan. 25 meeting, originally slated for Jan. 19 but postponed due to winter weather concerns.

In April, four council seats are up for grabs: both District 1 seats, along with a District 2 and a District 3 seat.