Susan Wood was appointed to the Wheat Ridge City Council District 3 seat and sworn in at the Dec. 8 council meeting after public commenters urged the council to honor the district’s recent election participants and councilors debated candidates’ qualifications.

Councilor Patrick Quinn introduced the motion to appoint Wood to the District 3 seat (term to expire Nov. 8, 2027). Several residents had urged the council to appoint Justin Slocum — the only candidate who ran in the recent municipal election for that seat — during the public-right-to-speak period. Tracy Bogguss said Slocum was “the only applicant that ran for the city council in District 3, and he received 42% of the votes,” and Justin Slocum told the council he was “not here tonight claiming entitlement to this appointment” but argued the council should honor voters’ intent because he campaigned and earned votes.

Councilors weighed representation and experience. A substitute motion from Councilor Holtein to nominate Simon McGowan was discussed and put to a vote; the substitute failed and the council returned to Quinn’s nomination of Susan Wood. Councilors cited Wood’s planning commission experience and institutional knowledge as a reason she could “step up day 1” and be immediately effective on implementation items the council faces. The council completed the appointment and then conducted the oath of office: Judge Lucero administered the swearing-in, during which Wood repeated the standard oath and agreed to “faithfully perform the duties of the office of council member.”

The process followed the city charter procedure for filling a vacancy; staff noted that the charter requires the council to choose a duly qualified person from the proper district within 30 days of a vacancy. Councilors also encouraged unsuccessful applicants to apply for other openings, including potential planning commission positions that would become available.

The council did not record a roll-call vote total for the final appointment in the transcript excerpt; the record shows extended discussion, a failed substitute motion, and the swearing-in immediately afterward. The meeting record shows public interest in procedural fairness, tension between honoring an election runner-up and selecting the candidate judged best-qualified by the council, and an emphasis from councilors on balancing lived representation (young families, school engagement) and technical planning experience.

The council moved on to certificates and other business following the swearing-in. Next procedural steps: no rehearing or appeal to this appointment is recorded in the transcript.