SHARON Dems cancel meeting on vacancy

City council ignored the committee's recommendation last time.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- A meeting of the Sharon Democrat Committee to pick a nominee for a city council seat has been canceled.
Chris Outrakis, committee chairman and a member of city council, said a Lettermen benefit concert this evening at Sharon High School has upstaged the committee meeting.
Most of the 26 committee members indicated they wanted to attend that event, which will benefit the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in Sharon, Outrakis said, adding that she plans to attend the concert as well.
City council is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. Monday to conduct interviews for the vacant seat of George Gulla, who died in January. Council will then hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. to make the appointment.
Outrakis said the committee will make no official recommendation of any of the candidates.
Five people had sent her letters of interest, asking to appear before the committee. All five had made a similar appearance last month when city council was considering an appointment to fill the seat of the late Lou Rotunno, who died in November.
Nominee rejected
The committee nominated Tom Hall for that spot. He had run unsuccessfully for the office in November. But council chose Darin Flower, also a Democrat, to the post, picking him from a list of 16 applicants.
The vote was 2-1, with Outrakis casting the dissenting vote.
Outrakis said Hall, Kirk Sieg, Linda Valentino, Vic Heutsche and Francis Connelly had all asked to appear before the committee again, seeking its endorsement.
The remaining 15 applicants for Rotunno's seat, including the five listed above, have already asked council to be considered for the Gulla appointment.
Any others interested in the post had until noon today to submit a letter of interest to the city clerk.