Pohlman as 5th place finisher raises questions about appointment

Matt Pohlman placed fifth in voting in the Chapel Hill Town Council elections.

That means he's the "fifth-place finisher" concerned citizens have been petitioning to add to the council's vacant seat. Pohlman applied for the spot in addition to running for the four spots up for election. 

Some have said appointing the fifth highest vote getter would be the most democratic way to fill that extra seat on council, left open by the departure of Bill Strom in August.

It is now up to town council to decide who is appointed to the extra seat.

Some say that Pohlman will not be given the seat because the council wants to appoint someone who they believe shows more racial and cultural diversity. Because Jim Merritt did not secure a council seat in re-election, there are no members of the council currently who are black.

The Town Council appointed Jim Merritt after the death of civil rights leader Bill Thorpe last year.