Three and possibly four West Wendover men will vie for the empty seat on the city council meeting next week.
The seat vacated by newly elected Mayor Emily Carter will be filled next Tuesday as the first item of business of the Wet Wendover City Council.
According to City Clerk Anna Bartlome two men recently defeated councilman Johnny Gorum and Red Garter General Manager David Serafini have formally applied for the post. A third, Casey Snyder announced his intentions to apply for the seat in last Tuesday’s city council meeting. Mean while rumors are circulating that out going West Wendover Police Chief Ron Supp is also pondering applying for the post.
Of the four Gorum would appear to have the inside track. A long time political ally of Carter, Gorum came in forth in what was essentially a four man race in the November election.
Snyder came in third in last weeks election besting incumbent councilman Johnny Gorum by just four votes after all the ballots were counted.
Snyder was applauded by the audience and received the public endorsement of two councilmen, Izzy Gutierrez and Gerado Rodriguez when he announced in last week’s meeting that he would apply for the vacancy. However Snyder may fall one vote short in the council vote.
Traditionally in West Wendover the mayor nominated the next highest vote getter in the previous election in this case that would be Snyder. However the Wendover ambulance general manager has made no secret of his opposition to past council policies that Carter played a major role and his specific disagreement with the proposed bailout of the Wendover Gas Company which Carter championed.
However the council’s ratification of a Gorum appointment is not a sure thing. Of the four councilmen to be voting only Roy Briggs could be considered sure to go along with the appointment. Gutierrez would probably vote against as well as Rodriguez. It would be up to Andrade to either kill the nomination by either voting no or abstaining. If he votes aye the tie would be decided by the Mayor Carter.
The appointment Snyder movement is said to be gaining ground among some members of the city council and the public at large.
A petition is also circulating in the city.
Serafini’s entry into the contest and perhaps Supp’s as well adds to the intrigue in this political game of musical chairs.
I think we all know who the new mayor is going to appoint. The people voted Johnny out yet Mayor Carter will put him right back in. With him back in the council will be puppets for the Peppermill and the city manager.