City Council gridlock continues as Ropp, Gibbs abstain—Ward 1 vacancy heads back to applications

For the second straight meeting, the Guthrie City Council failed to fill its open Ward 1 seat and instead voted unanimously to reopen the application process for five business days, setting up fresh interviews for June 17.

During the June 4 meeting, the council considered a motion by Ward 2 Councilman Brian Bothroyd to appoint Ed Wood, who once served a four-year council member and is a former vice mayor. The motion failed by a 3-2 vote after Mayor Adam Ropp and Councilwoman Menecca Gibbs abstained. An abstained vote is counted as a no vote.

Councilman Grant Aguiree was absent from the meeting.

This marks the second consecutive meeting where the council was unable to reach the required four affirmative votes to appoint a representative. At the May 20 meeting, the council deadlocked 3-3 in two separate votes—first for Franklin Danley, and then for Ed Wood. Both votes failed with minimal discussion among the council members.

Bothroyd, along with councilman Tracy Williams and Jeff Taylor, supported Wood, while Ropp, Gibbs, and Aguiree supported Danley, whom both candidates were in each of the council meetings seated in the audience.

At the most recent meeting, Bothroyd, Ward 3 Councilman Tracy Williams, and Councilman Jeff Taylor (Ward 2) again voted in favor of appointing Wood.

Related article: City Council deadlocks on Ward 1 appointment, vice mayor vote

Mayor Ropp stated before abstaining, “I have no personal issue with Ed Wood. I’m going to abstain from the vote.” No reason was given for Aguiree’s absence or for Ropp’s or Gibbs’ decision to abstain.

Bothroyd expressed disappointment in the process. “We, as a council, have to work together. There’s a lot we got to do moving forward.”

Bothroyd noted that Wood had appeared to be the consensus choice the evening before the May 20 meeting, but that changed the following day. Williams added that Aguiree had contacted him, saying, “I’m in a strange position. I’ve given my word to two people (Danley and Wood), and I’m going to have to break it to somebody.”

Ropp provided further context, saying, “The reason why this applicant has risen to the top is that there was not an agreement on two candidates. Then right around the time we’re thinking, well, I guess we concede to a third, one of those candidates dropped out. So the agreement of going to this person over here was on the basis of this up here, but then that changed. So that’s why you’re seeing this, if that makes sense, without going into too much detail.”

The council voted unanimously to reopen the application process. The new window will remain open for five business days and will close on June 10 at 5 p.m. Once applications are received, they will be shared with the council, and interviews will be conducted publicly during the regular Council meeting on June 17, at 6:30 p.m.

Until an appointment is made, the Ward 1 seat remains vacant.

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