Arden Hills looks to fill council seat after death of Dave McClung

Nick Ferraro, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
·2 min read

Dec. 7—Following last week's death of Arden Hills City Council member Dave McClung, the city is now accepting applications from residents interested in filling the vacant city council seat until the end of next year.

McClung died Dec. 1 after a yearlong cancer fight that had him attending meetings remotely. McClung, who had been on the council since 2007, was 53.

The city council at a special meeting Monday passed a resolution that declared the council vacancy and set in motion the process to fill the term, which ends Dec. 31, 2024.

Under state statute, the city council is required to fill the council vacancy by appointment until a successor is elected to fill the rest of the term held on or before the next regular city election.

On Nov. 8, voters will decide who will finish the remaining two years of the term, beginning Jan. 1, 2023, City Administrator Dave Perrault said.

Meanwhile, applications to fill the council seat until the end of 2022 will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. Dec. 29, 2021, and can be found and submitted on the city's website. Paper applications can be picked up and dropped off at City Hall.

Candidate interviews will happen the first week of January, with the appointment following shortly thereafter, Perrault said. The appointed resident would be eligible to vie for the seat in the election.

McClung's health issues came to light in October 2020, just before he won his final four-year term. McClung, who was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes more than 20 years ago, had some kidney functions "that went the wrong way and led to peritoneal dialysis," he said at a council meeting this past August. "And about that time, I decided to engage in some chemotherapy for multiple myeloma and amyloidosis."

City officials described McClung as a dedicated public servant who had been involved with various committees and commissions dating back to his days as a student at Mounds View High School. He worked as a criminal investigator for the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

Survivors include his husband, Chris Zickrick; mother, Dorothy McClung; and sister, Heather Meuleners.

A memorial service is planned for early January.