As we enter another week awaiting the outcome of the election to represent over 500,000 residents of the First District perhaps we should look at one of the cities in Orange County to see how they “select” rather than “elect” their council members.
In the city of Newport Beach, four of the current city council members were appointed rather than elected to serve. That surely is one way to avoid court battles and costly elections. Furthermore, they represent over 50 percent of that seven member council.
Mayor Steve Rosansky, Mayor Pro-Tem Ed Selich, Councilmember Keith Curry and Councilmember Leslie Daigle were each appointed. It surely makes it easier after backing into their posts when they run for re-election where incumbents win an overwhelming number of races.
To read about the city of Newport Beach simply go to www.freenewport.com
And for Juice readers:
What are the guidelines for “appointing” council members?
Should the Charter be Amended to limit the frequency, timing and number of appointments being made?
Whoa, whoa, whoa! A little correction is in order. Yes, those folks were “appointed”, but each was elected on their own hook last November. Your comments would have been relevant in October, but not now… the people have spoken, for better or worse.
Email response:
In the old days, the gov would have selected the new supe, but we changed the rules ’cause we had a Dem as governor. Appointments included Tom Wilson, Don Saltarelli, and a bunch of others.
Pot Stirrer.
No, no, no.
In researching city council races several years ago I checked to see the number of incumbents who were reelected Vs those who lost. And I am not referring to those who ran for a higher office such as Mayor or those who were termed out.
My data showed that 90 percent of the incumbents beat the challengers. Therefore being appointed “prior to running later” is a huge advantage over the field.
Yes, yes, yes… you’re right, of course, LG. Being the incumbent is a huge leg up. Newport elected 6 of their 7 council members in November in a campaign that was fun to watch from my vantage point in Costa Mesa.
and in Newport Beach, every appointed City Council member was elected, for the first time in November 2006, many of which to start their first “term,” meaning that those four (Daigle, Curry, Selich and Rosansky) will each be able to serve more than the standard two terms (8 years). newportbeachvoices.com
Larry – thank Todd Spitzer and the Party. He was mid term and wanted to run for Assembly. He/they came up with the idea of getting rid of the appointment process because the appointment would have allowed Gray Davis to appoint someone to that seat.
Pot Stirrer
“Your comments would have been relevant in Oct, but not now…”
What triggered my post was the waiting to see who would win in the First BOS race and feedback from a Newport Beach resident.
And I do recall the governor appointing Tom Wilson to be our Fifth District representative on the BOS.