Poplar Bluff council delays replacing Rushin

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff City Council members have delayed selecting a replacement for council-member-at-large Jack Rushin, who resigned in July amid nepotism allegations.

The council voted to hold a special meeting in the next week to allow the public to meet with the applicants for the position.

Rushin resigned amid nepotism charges involving the appointment of a relative to a city committee.

Applicants are, in order of application date: Susan McVey, a former city council member defeated in the 2014 election; Jim Chrisman, president of the Poplar Bluff Historic Depot Restoration association; Jerrica Fox, an employee of First Midwest Bank; Todd Sittig, an engineer at Mathis and Associates; and Austin Sutton, an employee of Bob Sutton Real Estate and Loans.

A sixth applicant for the position, Rex Rattler Sr., an employee of Alternative Opportunities, dropped out, city officials said Tuesday.

It will take four city council votes to select a replacement, who will serve until the next regular election in April. The person elected will fill the one year remaining on Rushin's term.

At the special meeting, council members expect to ask questions of applicants concerning their goals and qualifications.

The deadline to apply for the position was last week.