Tim Wheeler took his place on the Ripon City Council for one last time Tuesday.

He officially stepped down from his post on the next day, opening up a vacancy consisting of a previously used process of selecting a provisional appointment.

"It's not about the who but rather the how," said City Attorney Tom Terpstra on that next step.

Vice Mayor Dean Uecker entertained the idea of the runner up to Wheeler in the 2020 election getting the next-up nod. Resident David Murphy was in support of that, pointing out that candidates Tamra Spade and Richard Kohl received a combined 5,900 votes just a year ago.

Resident Stephanie Hobbs conducted her own research, adding that most cities in this case opted for the provisional appointment process or a special election.

"Not a single one did a next-in-line candidate," she said.

Elected leaders voted to fill the vacancy via appointment -- the apparent successor will hold office through November 2022, which is the next general election.

The provisional appointment and anyone who runs for that post would be limited to a two-year term.

The provisional appointment is nothing new to current council members Dean Uecker, Leo Zuber and Mike Restuccia. In 2014, they went through a similar process when Elden “Red” Nutt died suddenly and, under the Government Code, took the necessary steps towards filling the vacancy within that 60-day period following Nutt’s passing.

“It worked out really well,” Zuber said at the Oct. 28 special meeting.

The other option towards filling that vacancy would be a costly special election.

City Administrator Kevin Werner, in his staff report, said: “The election and Government Codes do not set out a specific process to be used to make the appointment other than to require any interviews conducted by the full City Council to be held in an open and public meeting.”

Council, in addition, approved the following dates:

• The open application period for interested candidates will be from now (Nov.  10) through 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, as posted on the public notice.
• A special Council meeting will take place Nov. 23. All applications must be submitted by then for review. Elected leaders will determine the format for interviews and the scoring methodology.
• Council will hold another special session on Dec. 2 to conduct applicant interviews.

The appointment would then be announced at the regular monthly session on Tuesday, Dec. 14.