Next week’s Primary Election is casting a shadow over Langley’s impending search for a new city councilman.

Robert Gilman resigned from the council Aug. 1, and said he hoped his immediate departure would give voters the chance to pick someone to fill his seat on the council in the November election.

The city later discovered that wasn’t an option and must instead appoint someone to fill the rest of Gilman’s term, which runs through 2013.

With two three-way council races on next Tuesday’s ballot, there’s now the prospect that the two candidates who will be culled from the herd Aug. 16 will instead try to get onto the council through a summertime appointment to Gilman’s seat.

That’s left some wondering what should be done with potential council applicants Langley voters have already rejected.

The council will discuss the appointment process to fill the vacant council seat at the council’s meeting on Monday, Aug. 15. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at city hall.

“I think the timing of this is kind of unfortunate since it’s in the middle of the Primary Election,” Councilman Hal Seligson said of Gilman’s resignation and the move now to fill the vacancy.

“I guess we have to see who applies for consideration for the appointment, and based on that, I imagine that there is the potential for the council being faced with choices that may be contrary to the expressed will of Langley voters,” he said.

Seligson said he personally would vote for an appointment based on the applicant’s qualifications, but added that for political leaders, having the confidence of the citizens is a valid consideration.

Other attributes are also important, he added, such as someone who clearly has the best interests of the city in mind.

“And that they bring some related talents to the table,” Seligson said.

“That they are someone who can work in a legislative body with others, and who is willing to seek reasonable compromise, and who does not have any particular ideological or other agenda in hand.”