LAWTON – City officials are seeking applications from people interested in serving Ward 6 on the Lawton City Council.
Applications for the vacant Ward 6 seat are available on the city’s website, www.lawtonok.gov. They can be scanned and emailed to cityclerkemaillist@lawtonok.gov or dropped off at the city clerk’s office, 212 SW Ninth St., before 5 p.m. April 21.
Applicants must be registered to vote at an address within the ward for at least six months before seeking the appointment, according to the city’s website. All applicants are subject to a background check.
The council will review all applications and appoint someone to fill the vacancy, but an announcement date has not been set yet, according to the city’s website. The person who is chosen will serve on the council until his or her successor is chosen at the next municipalelection.
The successful applicant will replace former Ward 6 Councilman Sean Fortenbaugh, who resigned from the council last month citing health reasons.
Fortenbaugh announced his resignation in a letter to Mayor Stan Booker. He said he was stepping down from all appointments, including city boards and commissions, effective March 27.
“I am regretfully resigning due to a sudden, serious health complication I recently experienced,” Fortenbaugh said in the letter dated March 27. “My doctors and I feel it would be best to remain focused on recovering, which, unfortunately, means stepping down from my duties at the City of Lawton. I owe the citizens of Lawton 100% effort and I am unable to meet these expectations as Ward 6 City Councilman while struggling with this illness.”
Fortenbaugh thanked Lawton residents for their guidance and support during his service on the council.
“I feel very good about you and the rest of the Council continuing to be a united voice to support the citizens of Lawton,” he said. “I’m sure the Council will be diligent in choosing a replacement for me.”
A longtime resident of Lawton, Fortenbaugh became a member of the council in January 2018. His current term was set to expire in 2024.
Even though Fortenbaugh is no longer in office, his constituents will still have a voice on the council, said Mayor Stan Booker.
“The citizens of Ward 6 are not going unrepresented because I am elected at large, which means as the mayor, I represent the citizens of everywhere,” he said. “If you have a problem in your ward, you need to get hold of me, and I can direct you to the right place.”
Paying tribute
Fortenbaugh’s colleagues on the council paid tribute to him during the council’s March 28 meeting.
“We’re really going to miss him up here because he offered so much every single time, and he had the life of the city in his heart,” said Councilwoman Linda Chapman.
Councilman Kelly Harris said Fortenbaugh was very quiet, but when he spoke, he spoke with reason.
“He was heartfelt in everything that he did,” Harris said. “Anytime that I had questions or needed guidance, I could call Sean and Sean would help me.”
Councilwoman Mary Ann Hankins said she enjoyed working with Fortenbaugh on various issues.
“He was always helpful when I came in, when I was still new,” she said. “I really appreciated all the support from him.”