The Corpus Christi City Council class of 2018 was sworn in Dec. 13, 2016. It quickly changed and is still rearranging. At center is newly elected Mayor Dan McQueen, center, who resigned his position 37 days later. Also shown are (from left) Federal Judge Janis Jack and members Michael Hunter, Lucy Rubio, Ben Molina, McQueen, Joe McComb (who is now mayor after the May special election), Paulette Guajardo, Greg Smith and Rudy Garza Jr. Another new member will be appointed June 20. Courtesy photo

The Corpus Christi City Council class of 2018 was sworn in Dec. 13, 2016. It quickly changed and is still rearranging. At center is newly elected Mayor Dan McQueen, center, who resigned his position 37 days later. Also shown are (from left) Federal Judge Janis Jack and members Michael Hunter, Lucy Rubio, Ben Molina, McQueen, Joe McComb (who is now mayor after the May special election), Paulette Guajardo, Greg Smith and Rudy Garza Jr. Another new member will be appointed June 20. Courtesy photo

When the deadline to file for appointment to a vacant at-large Corpus Christi City Council seat passed, 19 people had applied. Deadline to file for the seat left vacant by Joe McComb after he won a special election for mayor in May was June 2. The seat will be filed by the City Council on June 20 and the new council member sworn in July 11.
The seven current council members and the new mayor will review the applications before meeting in executive session June 13 to narrow the field. Public interviews for finalists will be held June 20 followed by a second executive session. The final decision will be made in open session that same day. 
The appointment will come just in time for the council’s annual budget process to begin. Budget decisions must be finalized in the fall.
Applications for the seat, which expires in November 2018, are: 
• Gerald Avila, adjunct professor
• Kamlesh Bhula Bhika, hotelier
• Julian Firo, occupation not listed
• Margareta Fratila, flower shop owner and former mayoral candidate
• Jonathan Gain, chemistry and engineering teacher
• Coretta Graham, attorney
• Katharine Guerra, self-employed
• Michael Kennedy, financial associate
• David Loeb, former City Council member
• Ray Madrigal, retired photographer, former City Council member and former mayoral candidate
• Chad Magill, former at-large City Council member who was defeated in a re-election bid in November 2016
• John Martinez, attorney
• Sylvia Oliver, retired
• Debbie Lindsey-Open, business owner
• Jimie Owsley, candidate for the at-large seat in November
• Lazaro “Larry” Quintanilla, retired
• Brian Rosas, former City Council member
• Wayman Tooles Jr., retired U.S. Air Force
• Larry White, retired engineer and a candidate for mayor in the recent special election