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Wilmington City Council begins process for filling second vacancy in one year

Sophia Schmidt, Delaware Public Media
The first council vacancy this year, for the seat representing the 1st District, remained empty for nearly four months.

Wilmington City Council is once again looking to fill a vacant seat. 

Councilman Bob Williams resigned Monday because, he says, he is moving out of the city to be closer to his wife's work and his son's new school. He represented the 7th District, which includes parts of Union Park Gardens, the Flats and the Hilltop neighborhood.

In a letter to Council President Hanifa Shabazz last month, Williams wrote, "Due to a change in circumstances, I must accommodate my family's needs and my son's education." He added that it had been "a pleasure" to serve the residents of the 7th District and to work with Council, which he said participated in "good debate and dialogue."

Williams' replacement will be selected by council after a committee of the whole interviews candidates. 

The last council vacancy lasted nearly four months. Council appointed Linda Gray to represent the 1st District in February — after a contentious process during which the rules for filling a council vacancy were changed to allow all council members to interview candidates. 

Council is accepting letters of interest from candidates who wish to fill the 7th District seat until August 1. 

  

Candidates must live in the 7th District, be at least 25 years old, and be a Democrat - which was Williams’ party affiliation. 

Sophia Schmidt is a Delaware native. She comes to Delaware Public Media from NPR’s Weekend Edition in Washington, DC, where she produced arts, politics, science and culture interviews. She previously wrote about education and environment for The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, MA. She graduated from Williams College, where she studied environmental policy and biology, and covered environmental events and local renewable energy for the college paper.
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