ST. LOUIS — The City of St. Louis is taking letters from residents who want to be appointed to the City Council seat left by Ferris Azzam, who has resigned. Letters are due to the city clerk by 4 p.m. Nov. 12, according to a notice the city posted Nov. 4.
The record at a glance
- The vacancy: one council seat, “due to the resignation of Ferris Azzam.” The notice says his resignation “is effective on November 4th, 2026” (city notice). The motion proposed for the Nov. 3 meeting said Nov. 3 (PDF p. 55).
- Who chooses: “the remaining four Council Members shall appoint a replacement,” according to the notice, citing the city charter.
- Two appointments: one person is appointed “to serve until the newly elected Council is in place.” Then, in January 2027, the new council must appoint someone “to serve the remaining two years of the term.”
- Who can apply: applicants “must be a resident and qualified elector of the City of St. Louis.”
- How to apply: a letter of interest, “including any information you believe is relevant,” to the St. Louis City Council in care of City Clerk Jamie Long, 300 N. Mill St., by 4 p.m. Nov. 12.
The resignation
Azzam’s one-paragraph letter, addressed “To city staff and council” and dated Oct. 20 (PDF p. 56), says he had served “for almost three years on city council but must now resign because I’m moving out of town.” It reads in part: “It was a pleasure working with other council members and city staff. I learned a lot. For that I’m truly grateful.” A handwritten postscript says, “I will attend the meeting on Nov. 3rd 2026, as it will be my last meeting.”
The resignation was item 11A on the council’s Nov. 3 agenda, “Resignation of Council Member and Discussion of Potential Appointment to Fill Vacancy” (PDF p. 2). The clerk’s agenda statement says the charter requires the vacancy to be filled within 30 days by a majority vote of the remaining members (PDF p. 55). The city’s notice gives no date for the first appointment.
The council’s minutes list him as Fares E. Azzam. His letter, the agenda statement and the city’s notice spell his first name Ferris.
Who serves now
The council packet lists five members: Mayor Ralph Echtinaw, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Leonard and Council Members Azzam, Kevin Palmer and Robin Hart. All five attended the Oct. 6 and Oct. 20 meetings, according to the minutes (PDF p. 3 of the Oct. 20 packet; PDF p. 3 of the Nov. 3 packet). At the Oct. 20 meeting Azzam made the motions that approved a fuel surcharge requested by the city’s trash hauler, Granger Waste Services, a $7,750 engineering contract for repairs to the Crawford water tower and a $15,800 storm sewer repair.
Write-in candidates
The city clerk’s reports in the same minutes mention council write-in candidacies ahead of the Nov. 3 election. On Oct. 6 Clerk Jamie Long reported that Ben March “has decided not to pursue a City Council seat as a write-in candidate” (PDF p. 9). On Oct. 20 she reported that resident Wendy Collier “has filed paperwork to be a write in candidate for council” (PDF p. 7). The records do not say how many council seats were on the ballot or whether either report relates to Azzam’s seat.
What we do not know yet
- When the council will make the first appointment, and whether it will interview applicants in public.
- What the council did with the resignation on Nov. 3; those minutes are not yet posted.
- When “the newly elected Council is in place,” and the results of the Nov. 3 council races.
Corrections and responses are welcome.