The Fayette City Council is again short by one representative. East Ward Alderwoman Kylie Tillman reportedly is no longer on the council after moving to a new residence outside that ward. She was not present at the council’s most recent meeting on Tuesday, November 23.

Tillman was appointed to the seat and sworn in on November 17, 2020. She succeed Jeremy Dawson who had moved from the East Ward. Dawson was later elected to serve as the Northwest Ward Alderman.

In April 2021, Tillman ran and was elected to serve out the remainder of the original term which ends in April 2022.

Fayette Mayor Kevin Oeth now has the onus to appoint yet another alderperson to serve out the remainder of the term. Should such an appointment be made, the new councilperson would be the third to serve, and the second appointed, all for the same two-year term. That person would then serve out the remainder of the term. The seat is up for election in the April 5, 2022, municipal election.

Mayor Oeth confirmed he has someone in mind to appoint to the seat but did not divulge that person’s name. If that person accepts, he or she could be appointed as early as December 14, which is the next scheduled meeting of the city council.

Candidate filing for the General Municipal Election, which includes school boards, municipalities, fire districts, and other political subdivisions, has been shortened by two weeks following the passage of House Bill 271. The opening day for candidates to file will be December 7, 2021, at 8 a.m. and the filing period will close on December 28, 2021, at 5 p.m.

Anyone who lives in the East Ward and wishes to serve on the council should file for election at City Hall.