The Coronado City Council has decided to fill its vacancy by appointment instead of special election and plans to name a new member by late January.
The vote was the council’s first order of business Tuesday evening after the city’s newest leaders, Mayor John Duncan and Councilmembers Mark Fleming and Amy Steward, were sworn in. They join incumbent Councilmember Carrie Downey.
“It is a true honor for me to work with Amy Steward, with Mark Fleming and with Councilmember Downey in the future for the next four years, or as long as we can work together,” Duncan said after being sworn in.
Duncan served half of a four-year term on the council before being elected mayor, which left the new council to determine how to fill the seat. State law gives it two options: a special election or a council appointment.
The mayor and council voted 3-1 for an appointment, with Downey voting no. The three members who voted in favor cited the costs of an election, turnout concerns and their desire to avoid another campaign cycle.
“We may be able to fit it within our city budget … but to me that doesn’t justify us spending that many taxpayer dollars on a special election,” Fleming said.
A special election could cost between $275,000 and $450,000, according to a presentation from the city manager.
The council could have held a mail-only election as soon as May 6. The next earliest date for a special election would have been Aug. 26 — also only mail-in — followed by Nov. 4, which would allow for both mail-in and in-person voting.
“I think we’re all a little tired of an election,” Steward said during the council’s discussion, a sentiment Fleming echoed.
The city said it can put out an application this week for Coronado residents who are interested in the appointed council seat.
Applications will be accepted until Jan. 13 and presented to the council when it next meets Jan. 21, where it will interview candidates and make an appointment — if members can reach a consensus.
A special election isn’t entirely off the table under this plan. If council members can’t reach a decision on whom to appoint at the Jan. 21 meeting, they could still choose to hold a special election in August or November. The deadline to call for a May election is in mid-January.
They just have to officially make a final decision — council appointment or special election — by Feb. 15, which is 60 days after the vacancy.
As the only dissenting vote, Downey said she preferred a special election to give Coronado voters a chance to decide for themselves. She pointed out that an appointment could set up the person chosen for an easy re-election.
“It’s hard to beat an incumbent in Coronado, and so it is likely whoever it is we would appoint is going to get that ticket for another eight years,” she said.
Most of the City Council is now new to the body. Downey, who is halfway through her current term, is the only incumbent and has served for a total of 14 years under various terms.
In recent weeks, two petitions have been circulating around the city advocating for a special election — or a council appointment of the November race’s third-place finisher, Laura Wilkinson Sinton.
Several residents spoke in favor of these options Tuesday.
“What you do will affect whether we see you as impartial and nonpartisan leaders,” said Rebecca King.
Others said they wanted the City Council to take the reins in the decision, especially after such a contentious general election.
“We’ve had enough,” said Rich Brady. “We elect you. You make decisions … so don’t have an election. Let’s move forward.”
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