YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Democratic Party plans to appoint a successor to Anita Davis to represent Youngstown’s 6th Ward on city council at a Jan. 26 meeting.

Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman Chris Anderson said two weeks ago that he had concerns about getting a quorum of at least four of the committee members who represent the ward to attend a meeting to select Davis’ successor.

But Anderson said Tuesday that with the recent appointment of Courtney Poullas to represent Precinct 6D, he “feels more confident we will now” have a quorum for the Jan. 26 meeting.

There are seven Democratic central committee members in the 6th Ward, with three of them not active in the party.

“We’ve rectified the quorum situation,” Anderson said.

Davis will start serving Thursday as council president, which leaves her ward seat vacant.

As she is a Democrat, that political party’s central committee members in that ward get the opportunity to fill the position.

The party is asking those interested in meeting Jan. 19 with the ward’s central committee members to discuss their interest in the job to submit a questionnaire by 5 p.m. Jan. 17. Those wanting screening questionnaires should request them by emailing chair@mahoningcountydemocraticparty.com.

Following the screening process, the party’s central committee members from Youngstown’s 6th Ward will meet at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at party headquarters, 3507 Canfield Road, Suite 7, to vote on Davis’ successor.

Filling out the questionnaire and meeting with the central committee members aren’t required to seek the seat, Anderson said.

All that is needed is a nomination from the floor during the Jan. 26 meeting.

The person selected to replace Davis will serve out the remainder of her term, which expires Dec. 31, 2027. The seat, as well as the six other ward council positions, will be on the November 2027 ballot. Those terms are for four years.

Council will be without a 6th Ward member until the Democratic meeting on Jan. 26. Council has meetings scheduled for Jan. 7 and 21.

“We want to fill it as soon as possible,” Anderson said of the council seat. “We don’t want to keep it vacant for long. We’re incredibly happy that the committee members in the 6th Ward will be there for a vote.”

If the party’s central committee members cannot decide on a candidate or if a quorum doesn’t attend the Jan. 26 meeting, the appointment would be made by the six city council members.

The 6th Ward includes most of the city’s South Side.