The Duluth City Council has narrowed the eight-person field of candidates in the running to replace 4th District Councilor Kerry Gauthier when he takes his new post in the state Legislature.
The top three finalists for the job in descending order of council support are Jacqueline Halberg, Sarah Priest and Garry Krause. The council eliminated the other candidates -- Bill Elliot, Gordon Grant, Pete MacInnes, Wade Petrich and Tony Salls -- in a ranking process Monday.
Councilor Jay Fosle said he thought it was important not to give the council seat to anyone who intended to seek re-election to the position. He suggested appointing such a person would provide him or her with an unfair advantage in the upcoming election. For that reason, he said there was only one suitable candidate in his eyes.
"Garry Krause was the only candidate who said he would not run again," he observed.
"Not only that, but he could walk in here and do the job," Fosle said, noting that he had previously been elected to represent District 4.
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Councilor Gauthier sat out the vote, despite Councilor Jim Stauber's admonitions that he participate.
"I really would prefer Councilor Gauthier not vote because he's so far left of me," Stauber joked. But he said Gauthier should be encouraged to vote as the elected representative of District 4.
Gauthier said he wasn't comfortable voting on his successor.
Council members will appoint one of the three finalists to serve out Gauthier's term at an upcoming meeting.
