Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe has announced plans to submit business owner De Urban’s name to fill a city council vacancy in Ward 6.
The city council is scheduled to vote on the nomination at its regular 6 p.m. meeting on Monday. The vote will come days before the city’s deadline to fill the vacancy. The seat has been vacant since August when Jenn Carrillo resigned after they purchased a home outside of Ward 6, which covers much of downtown and southwest Bloomington.
“After much consideration, conversation and consultation I have asked De Urban if she will fill the seat,” Mwilambwe said in a statement. “As a local business owner and community member, De will be an advocate and voice for Ward 6”.
If appointed, Urban would fill the remaining 18 months on Carrillo’s term.
Urban told WGLT she is willing to “step up” for the people in Ward 6. “I believe in the process that the city is taking to select someone for Ward 6 and I’m happy that Mboka has chosen somebody to put a name forward,” Urban said.
Urban co-owns an antique store south of downtown. She was one of 10 candidates who filed for the seat.
The appointment has been delayed as Mwilambwe has tried to find the “broadest consensus” possible, but reportedly faced some opposition on the council for his initial choice, Levi Champion.
The mayor then reportedly floated the idea of appointing former councilmember Karen Schmidt to the post. Schmidt represented Ward 6 on the council for 20 years before losing a re-election bid to Carrillo in 2019.
