With a vacant Harrisburg City Council seat needing to be filled because of Councilor Patty Kim's election to the PA House, on December 3rd City Council called thirty-two applicants to City Council Chambers to introduce themselves in two minute presentations. After the presentations, each City Councilor nominated one candidate from the applicants in a secret ballot process.

Once the six nominees were decided, City Council interviewed them individually, asking each nominee a series of questions relating to City Council duties and responsibilities, legislation, and knowledge of the City's current situation.

A vote will take place on December 11th to decide who will fill the vacant seat. Once the appointment is decided, the new Councilor will be sworn in that very evening.

Here are the videos of the interviews of the six nominees:

Latasha Frye, school-based coordinator at Big Brothers, Big Sisters: "I'm definitely a team player."

Floyd Stokes, Executive Director at the American Literacy Group: "I'm really optimistic about Harrisburg."

Joseph Solomon, former City of Harrisburg District Judge: "I think I could bring those same talents here to the City of Harrisburg."

Michael Parker, former Community Policing Coordinator for the City of Harrisburg: "My love of the City."

Bruce Weber, fiscal analyst for Department of Revenue, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: "I feel this is a unique time for the City."

Julie Bancroft, chapter founder, SheSays Central PA: "We need to strive to keep people in the City."

by Tara Leo Auchey

photo by Natalie Cake