Three men GÇô a community volunteer, a businessman and a police detective GÇô have applied for an appointment to the Eatonville Town Council. Adam Norton, David Smith and James Schrimpsher submitted letters of application to Town Hall by the Sept. 3 deadline. They'll be considered by the council as a possible replacement for Jim Valentine, who resigned from the council Aug. 7. An appointment could be made by council members at their Sept. 23 meeting, or they could take longer to make a decision. Whoever is picked will be able to complete the remaining two years of the four-year term that Valentine was serving. The seat will be up for election in 2015. Norton, Smith and Schrimpsher have been asked by town officials to attend the Sept. 23 meeting to possibly discuss their candidacies with council members. The only eligibility requirements for the applicants are that they be registered voters and residents for at least one year of Eatonville. Norton has been active as a coach and volunteer with youth sports and served as a team co-captain in the annual Relay for Life cancer fund-raiser. Smith is a business owner. He ran a write-in campaign as Valentine's only opponent in the 2011 council election. Valentine won. Schrimpsher, a Navy veteran, has worked in law enforcement for 17 years. He currently is a detective for the Algona Police Department. The council member that the three applicants hope to replace resigned unexpectedly the day after he finished fourth in the four-candidate field for mayor in the primary election in August. Valentine hasn't stated publicly his reasons for stepping down. There will be two other new faces for the council after the general election in November. Gordon Bowman, whose seat is up for election, is giving it up in order to run for mayor instead. Andy Powell is the lone candidate to take his place. Meanwhile, Mayor Ray Harper, who isn't seeking re-election to the town's top office, and Bob Walter are running for a council seat the Bob Schaub is vacating at the end of the year. Schaub decided not to go for another term. One other change in the town's elected leadership could occur in the upcoming election. The other candidate for mayor is Treasurer Mike Schaub, who would switch offices if he wins. Schaub is the son of Bob Schaub, the outgoing councilman.
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