Arlington City Council to fill Butner’s seat

ARLINGTON — The City Council here is looking for a new member after the death of longtime councilman Richard “Dick” Butner two weeks ago.

Butner, 80, had served on the council since 2004. He was a retired police officer and Army veteran and member of the Arlington-Smokey Point Chamber of Commerce, Masonic Lodge and the original Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission.

He died May 15 at home.

Butner’s term was set to end Jan. 1, and he had not filed for re-election. He’d told city administrators he planned on retiring.

Applications are available at City Hall or on the city’s website to fill the council seat until someone is elected in November and those election results are certified. Applicants must be registered voters who have lived in Arlington for at least a year, and applications are due by June 12.

The City Council plans to review applications starting June 15 and interview each candidate by the end of June. They hope to appoint a new council member by mid-July.

To apply, go to arlingtonwa.seamlessdocs.com/f/IMH7u6.

The position is one of three on the seven-member Arlington City Council that are up for election in November. Jacob Kukuk and Mike Hopson have filed to run for the spot. The other two City Council races also are contested, as is the race for mayor.

Mayor Barbara Tolbert is being challenged by Craig Christianson, a retired firefighter and son of former Arlington Mayor Howard Christianson. He also ran for mayor in 2011, when Tolbert was elected.

Sue Weiss is challenging one-term incumbent Randy Tendering for a seat on the council. Natalie Reed is running against incumbent Marilyn Oertle for the third open council seat, which Oertle has held since 2000.

The Arlington City Council meets most Mondays, with votes on the first and third Mondays of the month and workshops on the second and fourth Mondays.

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