There has always been a question about whether public constituencies are better-served with long-standing elected officials or steady, even unexpected turnover. Residents of Covington are about to test the latter scenario for the second time in less than a year.

The unanticipated resignation two weeks ago of Bud Sizemore from the City Council is forcing an all-points bulletin for what amounts to an emergency successor. Most of the time, members of elected bodies such as city councils leave office one of two ways: They decide against seeking re-election and hand their chair off to whomever is picked by voters, or they decide to run in the election but are denied another term by those very same voters.

In Sizemore’s case, he made an understandable and fair decision to step away from his role of helping chart Covington’s municipal course and devote more of his time and energy to his own family and his full-time occupation as a firefighter. The city lost a thoughtful and pragmatic council member, but no one can begrudge the other tugs he feels on his life. Even though he’s leaving office with about 18 months left in the four-year term that voters awarded him, he deserves to do what’s best for him and his family.

Sizemore’s departure does, however, come relatively close to the death of then-councilman Don Henning last fall. Wayne Snoey, who’d been a council member for two years earlier this decade, was appointed by the council to replace Henning. Snoey’s experience in city affairs elevated him to the top of a field of four candidates.

Now the council is accepting applications again for another appointee, this time to replace Sizemore without needing voter approval at the polls until the 2009 election. We hope some or all of the runnersup in last year’s appointment process try again, and that anyone else who’s qualified and interested also steps forward. That will provide a pool with experience and fresh insight from which the council can choose.

Editor Pat Jenkins