City council to appoint an interim councilmember

A city council majority or quorum is sometimes needed to conduct important city business. 

Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop, 3/14/12. "City Council decides to appoint interim council member until November election".

Replacing me, almost impossible

"The resignation of Jim Vreeland from Pacifica City Council left the council with a vacancy and missing an important tie-breaking component. Council members unanimously voted Monday to fill the vacancy by seeking letters of intent, resume optional, from interested people who wish to be appointed to council. That's due to the City Clerk next Friday, March 23 at noon. No personal interviews will be conducted. The appointment is expected to be made no later than April 27 and will last until November, when the appointee must face a public election to remain in the seat for the remaining two years of the term. The cost of that election will be $47,000.

While several audience members sought to have council appoint someone for the whole two years, council decided to go with an interim appointment. "I feel there must be an election because this was an elected seat," said Councilmember Mary Ann Nihart.

Councilmember Sue Digre suggested appointing the next highest vote-getter in the last election, which was Planning Commissioner Leo Leon. "This candidate has at least already run for council and he has been a city planning commissioner. What kind of information and criteria could possibly match this candidate?" she asked.

But Nihart and Mayor Pro Tem Len Stone did not wish to proceed that way and, in the end, council proceeded in a different way. "It's a different time. Appoint someone else. Let's see who is interested.  We should be open to possibilities," Stone said. Nihart suggested former City Council members or members of the Financing City Services Task Force would make good candidates.Digre expressed her dissatisfaction. should be open to possibilities," "This feels like a horse race," she said."

Posted by Kathy Meeh