Filling council seat a tough job
The first City Council meeting involving newly elected members John Anderson and Jan Horton left little doubt that the city’s governing body will engage in less group-think and express more independent opinions on major issues affecting municipal life.
The former council’s unanimous support for a higher-density downtown redevelopment project is definitely dead, and many past business-as-usual practices will be questioned as Anderson and Horton spend more time behind the dais.
But a key ingredient for a more complete change in the council’s dynamics will be the appointment or election of a fifth member to replace former Mayor Mike Duvall, who resigned to assume his state Assembly job.
Predictable attempts to name the past election’s third- and fourth-place finishers, Doug Dickerson and Keri Wilson, to the vacant post failed on two 2-2 votes, and the nomination of five-time Mayor and 28-year council veteran Hank Wedaa didn’t even gain a second.
Instead, the council called for applications from all residents who were interested in completing the two years remaining on Duvall’s term. Applications were due Dec. 12, and the council is scheduled to again consider a replacement this coming Tuesday.
But it’ll be difficult for any well-known figure to capture the three votes needed for an appointment, since nearly every credible candidate already has lined up with the new Anderson-Horton slate or continuing council members Allen Castellano and Jim Winder.
However, if the council fails to reach agreement by Jan. 3, the members shouldn’t worry about the expense of holding a special election. Voters should be allowed to choose the city’s elected leaders as a first priority.
Ironically, the cost would be about what the past council paid in legal fees and staff time in a failed attempt to keep the citizen-sponsored Right-to-Vote (Measure B) initiative off the June ballot--maybe in the neighborhood of $160,000.
And a June 5 date isn’t too distant, since the Town Center Blue Ribbon Committee won’t be reporting before then, and the four current council members aren’t facing the several nasty crises that plagued the city when Gene Wisner resigned in September 1999.
Fittingly, the newcomers renewed pledges to “listen to the people”--a promise appropriate for all elected leaders. Such a vow should include taking the time to answer signed e-mail inquiries, a task several council members haven’t always accomplished.
Also, council could improve communication by linking meeting agendas posted on the city’s Web site to staff reports and recommendations and streaming meetings live on the site to accommodate residents who use satellite services rather than Time-Warner cable.
A FINAL NOTE
Voters have awarded City Council positions to just four of the 18 women whose names appeared on the ballot in 14 of Yorba Linda’s 21 municipal elections. And among the four, only 2006 winner Jan Horton scored enough votes for a runaway first-place finish.
Carolyn Ewing placed second in a race for three seats in 1972, Barbara Kiley third for three seats in 1992 and 1996 and Keri Wilson second for two seats in 2002. Kiley’s second win was by 26 votes and Wilson’s margin was three votes.
Other female contenders were Betty Christensen (1967); Mary McCormick and Katherine Cavataio (1970); June Matthews (1974); Denise Mulick (1976); Jackie Harrison and Barbara Ady (1978); Barbara Hammerman (1980); Barbara Freeman, Donna Ward and Linda Macia (1984); Mary Nolan (1986); Christine Norris (1992 and 1994); Diana Hudson (2002 and 2006); and Wilson (2006).
The former council’s unanimous support for a higher-density downtown redevelopment project is definitely dead, and many past business-as-usual practices will be questioned as Anderson and Horton spend more time behind the dais.
But a key ingredient for a more complete change in the council’s dynamics will be the appointment or election of a fifth member to replace former Mayor Mike Duvall, who resigned to assume his state Assembly job.
Predictable attempts to name the past election’s third- and fourth-place finishers, Doug Dickerson and Keri Wilson, to the vacant post failed on two 2-2 votes, and the nomination of five-time Mayor and 28-year council veteran Hank Wedaa didn’t even gain a second.
Instead, the council called for applications from all residents who were interested in completing the two years remaining on Duvall’s term. Applications were due Dec. 12, and the council is scheduled to again consider a replacement this coming Tuesday.
But it’ll be difficult for any well-known figure to capture the three votes needed for an appointment, since nearly every credible candidate already has lined up with the new Anderson-Horton slate or continuing council members Allen Castellano and Jim Winder.
However, if the council fails to reach agreement by Jan. 3, the members shouldn’t worry about the expense of holding a special election. Voters should be allowed to choose the city’s elected leaders as a first priority.
Ironically, the cost would be about what the past council paid in legal fees and staff time in a failed attempt to keep the citizen-sponsored Right-to-Vote (Measure B) initiative off the June ballot--maybe in the neighborhood of $160,000.
And a June 5 date isn’t too distant, since the Town Center Blue Ribbon Committee won’t be reporting before then, and the four current council members aren’t facing the several nasty crises that plagued the city when Gene Wisner resigned in September 1999.
Fittingly, the newcomers renewed pledges to “listen to the people”--a promise appropriate for all elected leaders. Such a vow should include taking the time to answer signed e-mail inquiries, a task several council members haven’t always accomplished.
Also, council could improve communication by linking meeting agendas posted on the city’s Web site to staff reports and recommendations and streaming meetings live on the site to accommodate residents who use satellite services rather than Time-Warner cable.
A FINAL NOTE
Voters have awarded City Council positions to just four of the 18 women whose names appeared on the ballot in 14 of Yorba Linda’s 21 municipal elections. And among the four, only 2006 winner Jan Horton scored enough votes for a runaway first-place finish.
Carolyn Ewing placed second in a race for three seats in 1972, Barbara Kiley third for three seats in 1992 and 1996 and Keri Wilson second for two seats in 2002. Kiley’s second win was by 26 votes and Wilson’s margin was three votes.
Other female contenders were Betty Christensen (1967); Mary McCormick and Katherine Cavataio (1970); June Matthews (1974); Denise Mulick (1976); Jackie Harrison and Barbara Ady (1978); Barbara Hammerman (1980); Barbara Freeman, Donna Ward and Linda Macia (1984); Mary Nolan (1986); Christine Norris (1992 and 1994); Diana Hudson (2002 and 2006); and Wilson (2006).
posted by Jim Drummond at 11:00 AM
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