At-Large Town Council Selection and Appointment Process 

On Tuesday, January 10, 2023, the Apex Town Council voted to appoint Arno Zegerman to serve as a temporary At-Large Town Councilmember through December 2023. Council made this appointment after an open and extensive selection process.  Additional information about Councilmember Zegerman may be found by visiting the following webpage: Apex Town Councilmember Arno Zegerman. 

Mr. Zegerman released the following statement regarding his appointment: 
“I am honored and privileged to have been appointed to serve on the Apex Town Council. I would like to express my gratitude to the residents who expressed their support during the application process. I also would like to thank the Mayor, Town Council and Town Clerk for creating a fair and transparent process to appoint a new Town council member outside of the normal election process. I’m committed to earn the trust of Apex residents and to represent everybody fairly and equitably.

I look forward to work with my fellow Council members and Town staff to address the concerns of our community and lead smart, sustainable growth that keeps Apex a great place for all of us to live, work, and raise our families. Apex is a wonderful town and I’m excited to contribute to its bright future.”

Background Information

On Tuesday, November 29, 2022, the Apex Town Council voted to accept Councilmember Cheryl Stallings' resignation and initiate the selection process. Council adopted a policy and process timeline for appointing a candidate to fill the unexpired term. The person selected for this position will be asked to serve the remainder of Stallings' elected term ending December 6, 2023.  

Stallings, who was elected to the Apex Town Council in December of 2019, won her recent election to the Wake County Board of Commissioners. She resigned from her Council seat effective Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.  

To qualify for consideration, applicants were required to:

  • Be a registered voter 
  • Be at least 21 years of age 
  • Be a resident and qualified to vote in Apex Corporate Limits 
  • Be current on any Property Taxes Due 

Appointment Process Timeline

  • Wednesday, November 30, 2022:  Application process opens (completed)
  • Friday, December 9, 2022: Application process closes (completed)
  • Tuesday, December 13, 2022:  Applicant information released to Council and the public 
  • Friday, December 16, 2022: Candidates selected to be interviewed 
  • Friday, January 6, 2023: Candidate Interviews and public hearing
  • Tuesday, January 10, 2023: Council appointment announced 
  • Thursday, January 12, 2023: Swearing-in ceremony 
  • Monday, January 16, 2023: New Councilmember Orientation Begins 

Candidate Interviews, Public Hearing, and Written Statements

On Friday, January 6th, the Apex Town Council held a special meeting to conduct interviews, and conducted a public hearing to receive feedback on four candidates for consideration to temporarily fill the vacant seat on the Apex Town Council. The meeting began at 2:30 pm,  and was held on the 3rd Floor of the Apex Town Hall, located at 73 Hunter Street. The full meeting, including candidate interviews, the public hearing, and Council deliberations, were open to the public and recorded on the Town's YouTube Channel.  Members of the public had two opportunities available to provide feedback on the potential candidates - written statements and in-person..  Written statements were accepted until 12 noon on Friday, January 6th, 2023 and are available for public inspection below.    

Written Statements Received

Interview times for each candidate were determined based on a random drawing.   The drawing was conducted on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 and the results are noted below: 

Interview Times - Results of Random Drawing 

Nominations for Interview

On Friday, December 16, 2022, the Town Clerk's Office released the nomination results submitted by the Mayor and each individual Town Councilmember.  Each member of the Town Council, including the Mayor, were able to select up to seven (7) candidates to be interviewed by the close of business day Friday, December 16, 2022.  A total of seventeen (17) candidates received nominations, however, only four (4) received a majority (three or more) vote required to move forward in the process.  Members of the public may access the official nomination record using the link below:

Temporary At-Large Town Councilmember Official Nomination Record

Applications Received

On Tuesday, December 13, the Town Clerk's Office released the list of eligible applicants for the vacant At-Large Town Council seat.  Members of the public may access the each candidates’ application and resume in person at the Apex Town Clerk’s Office located at 73 Hunter Street in Apex between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday or online using the below link: 

View Applicants and Corresponding Reports 

According to North Carolina General Statutes § 160A-63 and the Apex Town Code of Ordinances, the Apex Town Council has the authority to appoint a qualified individual to fill Stallings unexpired term until residents have the opportunity to elect a successor in the 2023 Apex municipal elections.  

Questions:

For additional information about the process to fill the At-Large Apex Town Council seat, contact the Town Clerk's Office by phone at (919) 249-1260 or by email at allen.coleman@apexnc.org.    

Supplemental Materials: