Mayor nominates Downtown Bloomington business owner to fill Carrillo’s Ward 6 seat

Posted on October 25, 2021

*The council has until the end of this month to name Carrillo’s replacement. (WJBC file photo)*

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe said Friday he’s nominating a downtown business owner to fill the vacant Ward 6 city council seat.

De Urban is owner of Alley Kats Art and Antiques, and must win majority council approval to fill the seat formerly held by Jenn Carrillo, who resigned because she moved out of the ward. Aldermen will vote on Urban’s appointment Monday night.

Ward 6 covers parts of Downtown Bloomington and the city’s west side, and Urban was one of Mwilambwe’s 10 finalists who applied for the position.

“After much consideration, conversation and consultation I have asked De Urban if she will fill the seat,” said Mwilambwe in a statement.

“As a local business owner and community member, De will be an advocate and voice for Ward 6,” Mwilambwe also said.

Urban frequently attends city council meetings, and at times has been critical of the council’s most progressive members, including Carrillo.

The council has until the end of this month to name Carrillo’s replacement. Mwilambwe acknowledged the process has taken longer than expected because he was seeking a council consensus for his pick.

Alderman Jeff Crabill, one of the council progressives, said recently on his Facebook page that the mayor was considering former Ward 6 Alderwoman Karen Schmidt for the job.

Crabill said he opposed Schmidt’s appointment because she lost to Carrillo in the 2019 election. Schmidt did not apply for the position.

If the council does not approve Urban’s nomination, the mayor would make a temporary appointment that would not require council consent, Mwilambwe said in a news release.

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