5-13-14 giles selected for council vacancy

The Fond du Lac city council has selected the YMCA director to fill a vacancy on council.  After interviewing the four finalists Monday evening the council voted four to two in a straw poll to appoint Greg Giles to the seat.  The council is expected to make it official at their meeting Wednesday evening.  Council president Sam Meyer cast his straw vote for former councilmember Mark Jurgella. But Meyer says Giles was a very strong candidate.  "It was a tough decision to make because both gentlemen bring something very strong to the table,"  Meyer told WFDL news.   Councilmember Gary Miller disagreed with the process.  Miller felt the council should have appointed Mick Burroughs to fill the vacancy.  Burroughs received more than 13 hundred votes in the spring election…falling less than 200 votes shy of being elected.  Miller says if he does vote on Wednesday…he will vote for former councilmember Mark Jurgella.  Cathryn Block says her vote would have been for newcomer Sarah Feltes despite her lack of experience in public office.  Block later said she would support Giles when councilmembers Meyer and Miller said it was a difficult choice for them.   Councilmember LeeAnn Lorrigan supported Giles but says Feltes was her second choice. Councilmembers Foster and Merkel also voted for Giles.  Giles will fill the seat vacated by Dan Manning who resigned before the election because of a new job.  The term will expire next April.