Lamar council appoints Bob Seay to fill Ward 1 seat

The Lamar City Council appointed Bob Seay to fill the vacant Ward 1 seat Sept. 16 after interviewing him and deliberating in executive session. The appointment was unanimous, and his formal swearing-in is scheduled for the council’s Sept. 28 meeting, according to the Sept. 16 council meeting recording.

Seay was the only timely applicant for the seat, which became vacant when Brent Bates resigned. The council previously said the replacement would serve the remainder of Bates’ term, which runs through November 2027.

Seay is a retired Lamar teacher who said he spent 39 years in public service, including 17 years in Lamar. During his interview, he identified economic development, job and income opportunities, aging infrastructure, parks and recreation, and community growth as priorities. He also emphasized constituent service, research and fact-checking, respectful disagreement and engaging young residents in local government.

He described a proposed data center as a major issue because of its potential positive and negative effects on Lamar. Those comments were part of his interview, not a separate council action.

The mayor said Seay would receive training on municipal rules, open-records requirements and council responsibilities. The mayor also invited him to attend the following week’s budget discussions before taking the oath.

Bates had served as a Ward 1 council member and mayor pro tem since May 2023, contemporaneous coverage reported. The city’s vacancy notice describes the eligibility requirements for the seat.