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Political Gumbo: Elections, Appointments and Post-elections

What happens after the elections?

Published on Monday, February 17, 2020 | 3:28 am
 

If Victor Gordo wins the mayor’s race, the next conversation will surround his replacement in District 5.

In recent memory, the city has appointed two people, Mayor Terry Tornek and then-District 3 Councilman Chris Holden, to replace councilmembers who have resigned their seat after winning elections.

Local developer Joel Bryant was appointed by the council to replace Holden after Holden won his state Assembly seat and resigned from the council.

Andy Wilson was appointed to replace Tornek, then and after serving two years in Tornek’s seat he won the seat in a tight runoff against Phil Hosp.

More on the Mayor: I have never liked the current process that forces councilmembers in districts 1, 2, 4 and 6 to give up their seats to run for mayor because their seats come up at the same time as the mayoral election. Meanwhile, councilmembers in 3, 5 and 7 face no consequences if they run for mayor and lose. If Gordo does not win, he remains in office.

There are two possible fixes that require charter changes. Hold the mayor’s election in November under plurality rules, whoever gets the most votes wins. My second idea: give the mayor a five-year term so he is elected in an off year.

More elections: The city changed its election date to match state elections — well the voters changed it, based on an opinion by state Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who said charter cities must comply with state laws mandating cities with low voter turnout hold elections on state election dates to increase turnout. Redondo Beach didn’t go along with Becerra’s position and won in court. We’ll find out if voter turnout increases after the election in two weeks.

Second to last election: Anyone expecting the election results to come in as quickly as they have at City Hall will be sadly disappointed on March 3.

Last elections: Every election season candidates say they will stay involved if they lose, most don’t. Robin Salzer is probably the biggest exception. Let’s hope some of the candidates remain involved. Among others, I think Ryan Bell should be appointed to a committee should he not win.

As expected: The first question at Sunday’s Mayoral forum was about Fire Chief Bertral Washington.

Re Washington: Elected officials pushing state privacy laws forcing the city to stay silent on the reason for reassigning Washington to Steve Mermell’s office, and yes it was a reassignment, may want to make sure Washington’s rights have not already been violated. Stay tuned.

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