Wood is appointed mayor of Clearfield

CLEARFIELD — The City Council appointed council member Don Wood as mayor Wednesday night during a special council meeting.

Wood, who beat out four other candidates for the job, takes the place of Dan W. Phelps, who resigned as mayor Feb. 21, citing personal and family reasons. Phelps was elected in November and sworn in Jan. 3.

"I want you to know that I don't have all the answers," Wood said, wiping tears from his eyes. "But I know someone who does. I'll be on my knees talking to him."

When council member Doyle Sprague's motion to appoint Wood as mayor passed unanimously, the room burst into applause for Wood.

"I think that was important for the city," Wood said.

It's a new job for Wood, who was a political newcomer when he was elected to the council in 2003. He is also an owner of the Lynn Wood Service Center, with shops in Layton and Clinton.

"It's a new trust," he said.

Wood has not been drawing his $741.07-a-month stipend as a council member. Instead, he has used the money to establish scholarships for underprivileged youths in the city. He plans to do the same with the $973.85 he earns each month as mayor.

"He's an honest man with great integrity," said Donna Bisseger, Wood's oldest daughter. "He's a great example for the people in the community and for us, too."

Four other men applied for Phelps' job: Jim Barlow, a former council member who was voted out of office in November; Andrew Higham, an 18-year-old senior at Clearfield High School; Mark Shepherd, a member of the city's Planning and Zoning Commission who lost to Phelps in November; and Dick Waite, a former city recorder.

Shortly after resigning, Phelps said he hoped Wood would get the job.

Because he was a council member, Wood was barred from interviewing other candidates and from the selection process, which involved public interviews by the remaining four council members.

Wood thanked the other four candidates for throwing their hats in the ring and said he appreciates their willingness to serve.

Wood's term as mayor expires in January 2008. Then, the city will hold an election to fill another two-year mayoral term.

The council will soon experience a round of musical chairs. Now that Wood is mayor, there is a vacancy on the council. At the next council meeting on Tuesday, the council is expected to open the process for picking someone to fill Wood's seat.

Thursday, Michael LeBaron, a member of the city's community council, sent a letter of interest to Nancy Dean, the city recorder, making himself a candidate.

Shepherd said he plans to file as a candidate for the open seat. Waite and Higham have expressed some interest, as well.

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com