Ex-members interested in returning

Members of the La Grange City Council will soon appoint a new council member to fill a seat vacated by the late James Beaumont.

Beaumont died Dec. 12. He served two stints on the council and was the city's first African-American council member.

Mayor Elsie Carter said she plans to present the council with a letter of interest from Denise Watts Wilson at the council's regular meeting on Monday.

Though others have expressed interest, Carter said Wilson is the only candidate who had submitted a letter of intent as of Dec. 31.

Carter said she believes Wilson's activism in the community and attention to detail will make her a great addition to the council.

"She studies everything," Carter said of Wilson. "She does her homework."

Wilson is a local teacher who served a two-year term on the council and ran for the seat in 2006. She has lived in Oldham County for about 10 years and is a member of the LIGHThouse Christian Fellowship. In her 2006 campaign she stressed communication with the people of La Grange and providing community economic direction as her top priorities as a council member.

Beaumont won the seat by just a handful of votes more than Wilson in November 2006.

The council has 30 days from the January meeting to elect the new member, who will serve for the remainder of 2008. If the council does not select a candidate, the governor will appoint a council member.

City council elections for the 2009-10 term are Nov. 4.

City attorney Wade Helm said council members reported that several residents, including former council member Jean Knight, have expressed interest in the position.

Council member Lucy Ricketts said council members are waiting until the meeting to make suggestions about the position. She said they could vote to fill the seat at that meeting if a candidate has expressed enough interest.

"There has been some discussion, but we really don't want to make decisions on that until we get to the meeting," Ricketts said.

Carter said the city council will not be hasty in choosing another city leader. She wants the candidate to have a genuine interest in representing residents and keeping up with important issues.

"Some people are very dedicated to a job like this," she said.

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