CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The continued absences of a longtime Charleston council member at Charleston City Council meetings are getting the attention of Charleston Mayor Danny Jones who is pledging to take action, in some form, ahead of the next council meeting on Jan. 17.
“The people in Kanawha City want a council member,” Jones said. “And mainly we’re concerned about John.”
John Miller, a past candidate for the House of Delegates, represents Ward 17 in Charleston’s Kanawha City.
He’s served with Jones for many years, but has recently been dealing with “issues,” according to the Mayor, who said Miller has not attended a city council meeting since Oct. 3.
Jones does not like the options available to address the absences which include asking for Miller’s resignation or, minus that, declaring Miller’s seat vacant so someone else can be appointed.
“To declare a guy’s seat vacant, it almost seems cold and cruel,” he said.
Still, Jones said, he’s been hearing questions about Miller, who he calls a friend, since November.
“This is where the mayor’s job gets dirty,” Jones said on Wednesday’s 580-LIVE. “It’s hard.”