The Madras City Council filled two of its vacant seats on Tuesday, September 1, appointing Christopher Heden and Tony Chard to serve through the end of the year. The appointments follow the earlier resignations of councilors Mike Seibold and Lamar Yoder, which left the council short-handed during an already turbulent stretch for city government.
Seven community members applied for the openings. The council conducted interviews during a special meeting before selecting Heden and Chard. Both will hold their seats until newly elected councilors are sworn in following the November election.
Tony Chard: Motivated by Neighbors and Accountability
Tony Chard, a Jefferson County native, told the council he was motivated to apply by neighbors frustrated over the 2025 rezoning of the Stone Oak property on Oak Street — a decision that drew significant public opposition throughout the community.
"I wasn't feeling that responsiveness and I think our community wants and needs that," Chard said during his interview.
Chard, who holds a degree in government law, said he had been attending recent council meetings to prepare for the role and had done extensive research on agenda items. He currently serves on budget committees for both the city and the redevelopment commission.
Chard acknowledged recent City Hall turmoil candidly. "People inherently feel that the city is broken," he said. "It stems from, let's just face it, this year we have two councilors who left. We have numerous directors over the last few years who've left. So the success is building a cohesive unit."
He added that cohesion can be built even while disagreeing — through continued listening and open dialogue. Chard is also running for a full council term in November.
A Council Finding Stability
The appointments come as Madras continues to stabilize its leadership structure after an extended period of turnover. Earlier this year, Public Works Director Jeff Hurd briefly served as interim city administrator before David Clyne was appointed to the role in April 2026.
Both Heden and Chard will join a council working through a full agenda, including budget questions, the November election cycle, and ongoing community concerns about development and responsiveness at City Hall.
The November election will determine who fills these council seats on a permanent basis. Travis Montgomery, one of the seven who applied for the temporary appointment, is also running for Madras mayor.
The next regular Madras City Council meeting is scheduled for later in September. Residents can attend in person or check the city's website at madras.gov for agendas and meeting details.