Margo Shortt is returning to the Aberdeen City Council, selected from four applicants to fill the vacancy left when Ward 4 Councilwoman Karen Rowe resigned in May. In a runoff vote, the council chose Shortt over ex-mayor Erik Larson by a vote of 7-4.

Shortt served on the council for 16 years, withdrawing her re-election bid last year, citing health reasons. In her application letter, she said that has been resolved.

The four applicants included Shortt, former Mayor Erik Larson, recent council and mayoral candidate Janae Chhith, and resident Steve Heywood.

The council Wednesday met in executive session for about 20 minutes, primarily to discuss the candidates. Just before the closed session, about a half hour of public comment was read into the record, much of it dealing with support for various candidates. There were many read in on behalf of Chhith and Heywood; Larson had one letter of support signed by numerous residents of Ward 4, and a couple of comments against his appointment were read. Many of the comments did not include a ward number.

The 11 members of the council went through the first round of votes, which had Larson and Shortt getting the most, moving them into a runoff vote. Larson received support from Ward 3 Councilman Tim Alstrom, Ward 2 Councilmen Nathan Kennedy and John Maki, and Ward 4 Councilwoman Deborah Ross, but the remaining councilmembers – Ward 1’s Tawni Andrews and Dave Haviland, Ward 3’s Kati Kachman, Ward 6’s Frank Gordon and Dee Anne Shaw, and Ward 5’s Joshua Francy and Alan Richrod voted for Shortt.

Shortt will begin her term at the next City Council meeting, July 29, and will remain there until the next council election in 2021.