Two paths to new Yorba Linda mayor choice
Since the first Yorba Linda City Council was seated in 1967, members have used two methods to choose the mayor and mayor pro tem—and both approaches have benefits.
The first council decided that members would serve six-month terms as mayor and mayor pro tem in order of votes received in the election. Many subsequent councils also adopted a rotation system, removing politics from the process.
However, some councils in each decade of cityhood picked a mayor who reflected the majority opinion of elected council members, noting the mayor would be representing council positions at city, county and regional gatherings.
Mayor Pro Tem Jan Horton would be mayor and John Anderson mayor pro tem using a rotation method, but if new members want a mayor more reflective of majority thinking, Anderson might be mayor and Nov. 4 first-place finisher Mark Schwing mayor pro tem.
A decision could come at Tuesday’s council session. Interestingly, two years ago, Horton cast the only vote against selecting Jim Winder mayor pro tem under the rotation method.
Other election-related items:
--Schwing returns to the council after an eight-year layoff. He placed second in 1988 and first in 1992 and 1996 but lost by 100 votes in 2000 and three votes in 2002. He attended most council meetings since he left office, and his three-term limit clock starts this year.
--Hank Wedaa voluntarily retired from the council twice, after six terms in 1994 and a seventh in 2000. He won an eighth short term in a low turnout 2007 special election but now leaves the dais after his only council defeat since first taking office in 1970.
--A sad aspect of any council election is a small number of intense partisans who brand those with opposing views as “liars.” To suggest that any of the nine recent candidates didn’t have the best interests of Yorba Linda in their hearts is arrogant and distasteful.
--Longtime resident and two-time mayor Mike Duvall won his state Assembly seat with 55 percent of the vote, down from the 59 percent he received in 2006, but winning west Yorba Linda with 70 percent. Curt Hagman won the eastside seat 62 percent overall and 69 percent in Yorba Linda.
--Hagman replaces Bob Huff, who won the state Senate seat 62 percent overall and 70 percent in Yorba Linda. Congressman Gary Miller won re-election 64 percent overall and 72 percent in Yorba Linda.
--Yorba Linda resident Mike Matsuda wasn’t on an Orange County ballot because no one opposed the North Orange County Community College District board incumbent. But he won 4,392 votes in Los Angeles County for the small part of the district outside the OC.
The first council decided that members would serve six-month terms as mayor and mayor pro tem in order of votes received in the election. Many subsequent councils also adopted a rotation system, removing politics from the process.
However, some councils in each decade of cityhood picked a mayor who reflected the majority opinion of elected council members, noting the mayor would be representing council positions at city, county and regional gatherings.
Mayor Pro Tem Jan Horton would be mayor and John Anderson mayor pro tem using a rotation method, but if new members want a mayor more reflective of majority thinking, Anderson might be mayor and Nov. 4 first-place finisher Mark Schwing mayor pro tem.
A decision could come at Tuesday’s council session. Interestingly, two years ago, Horton cast the only vote against selecting Jim Winder mayor pro tem under the rotation method.
Other election-related items:
--Schwing returns to the council after an eight-year layoff. He placed second in 1988 and first in 1992 and 1996 but lost by 100 votes in 2000 and three votes in 2002. He attended most council meetings since he left office, and his three-term limit clock starts this year.
--Hank Wedaa voluntarily retired from the council twice, after six terms in 1994 and a seventh in 2000. He won an eighth short term in a low turnout 2007 special election but now leaves the dais after his only council defeat since first taking office in 1970.
--A sad aspect of any council election is a small number of intense partisans who brand those with opposing views as “liars.” To suggest that any of the nine recent candidates didn’t have the best interests of Yorba Linda in their hearts is arrogant and distasteful.
--Longtime resident and two-time mayor Mike Duvall won his state Assembly seat with 55 percent of the vote, down from the 59 percent he received in 2006, but winning west Yorba Linda with 70 percent. Curt Hagman won the eastside seat 62 percent overall and 69 percent in Yorba Linda.
--Hagman replaces Bob Huff, who won the state Senate seat 62 percent overall and 70 percent in Yorba Linda. Congressman Gary Miller won re-election 64 percent overall and 72 percent in Yorba Linda.
--Yorba Linda resident Mike Matsuda wasn’t on an Orange County ballot because no one opposed the North Orange County Community College District board incumbent. But he won 4,392 votes in Los Angeles County for the small part of the district outside the OC.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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