JACKSON, Wyo. — The Town of Jackson announced on Tuesday, Jan. 7, that applications are now being accepted for the vacant seat on the Town Council. The seat became available when Mayor Arne Jorgensen took the oath of office and was sworn-in on Jan. 6.
At their regular evening meeting on Jan. 6, the new Mayor and Council members discussed and set an application, selection and appointment process for the vacant seat, per the Town’s press release.
Town said in the announcement that the appointee will serve the remaining two years of the unexpired term vacated by Jorgensen, which concludes in January of 2027. The salary for this seat is $41,000 annually, and Council members are eligible for health insurance coverage. Town Council has four regular meetings on the first and third Mondays of each month.
To be eligible for the Council seat, applicants must be:
- A qualified elector
- At least 18 years old
- A resident of the Town of Jackson
- A citizen of the United States
According to the Town, the appointee will be selected by Town Council.
“As of this morning, there is a vacancy on Town Council,” Town Manager Tyler Sinclair told the Council on Monday. “It’s a big decision. There has been a fair amount of interest in the open seat appointment, and I want to help people to be aware of the process.”
Council determined that the first stage of the procedure will be the submission of an online application, along with a letter of interest and resume. Additionally, a minimum of two references will be required.
The application will contain approximately 25 questions, and applicant responses to each question are to be limited to 500 words. Two of the questions on the application ask,”What do you see as the major challenges and opportunities facing the Town of Jackson?” and “How do you handle disagreement/conflict with colleagues about an issue or decision?”
Council then reviewed the proposed timeline for filling the seat vacancy. Councilor Kevin Regan suggested that the process should give applicants enough time to apply. Councilor Jonathan Schechter said that the new appointment will greatly impact the Council over the next four years, and that the process should not be rushed.
“As a deliberate body, we need to think about what would be an effective process,” Schechter said.
Arne Jorgensen insisted that the process could be done quickly and efficiently. During public comment, former Councilwoman Jessica Sell Chambers also encouraged the Council to move forward as quickly as possible to fill the seat.
“We are staring at some significant challenges ahead with the budget deficit,” Sell Chambers said. “This person needs to hit the ground running.”
Eventually, Council members agreed upon the staff amended schedule, with the caveat that the process could be extended if needed. Per the staff report, applicants can apply for the position until the deadline of Thursday, Jan. 16 at 4 p.m. Council will select five finalists on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The five finalists will then be interviewed on Jan. 23 and 24. The newly appointed Council member could fill the position as early as Monday, Feb. 3, according to the proposed application schedule.
Schechter said that the nature of this job requires a knowledge of the Town’s issues, and the ability to reflect on difficult decisions.
“The application process is challenging because it’s a challenging job,” Schechter said.
Applications are available on the Town’s website, and will now be accepted until Thursday, Jan. 16 at 4 p.m. To be considered for appointment, interested community members must complete and submit the application with a resume, cover letter and references. For more information, visit the Town’s website. Direct questions to Town Manager Tyler Sinclair at tsinclair@jacksonwy.gov or 307-734-3480.
