Political Gumbo: Be Transparent No Matter What

This week the City Council will once again choose the District 3 City Councilmember, this time to fill the vacancy created by John Kennedy’s victory in the June primary.

But this time, the appointment has to be viewed in a different light.

Before we get too deep let me slide into some particulars.

Most of us know this by now, but just in case you don’t, in September the City Council chose Justin Jones to fill the vacancy left in Kennedy’s current term which ends on Monday.

Effective Monday, when the next City Council is put in place, Jones will be off the City Council and the seat will be once again vacant.

On Dec. 15, the City Council will again be forced to fill the second vacancy, mentioned above, from Kennedy’s victory in the June Primary.

Jones and Brandon Lamar have qualified for the seat. 

But now, instead of just listening to the presentations with an ear bent on figuring out who is best equipped to fill the seat, a new question has to come into place for the City Councilmembers.  

Is there a reason the current District 3 Councilmember should not return to the City Council?

Yes Brandon Lamar has every right to seek the seat by appointment and a vote of the people. 

Pasadena Now is not endorsing Jones or Lamar, councilmembers are required to make up their minds in the appointment process.

Instead this is a call for transparency in the process, which many people living in District 3 and throughout the City have called for. 

Residents have called on the City to reveal voting records and arrest records of the applicants. 

The first time around, Councilmembers were required to report past engagements and meetings with the candidates. 

Now that transparency must be expanded. 

If the City Council decides the de facto incumbent is no longer the best choice to represent District 3, then that requires some type of explanation.

Transparency should be up front in every part of the process.