LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Lakeport City Council chose to appoint two of its members to new four-year terms due to them running unopposed.
The council voted unanimously to appoint Mayor Mireya Turner and Councilwoman Stacey Mattina to the new terms. The item begins just after the 53 minute mark in the video above.
Earlier this month, Turner, who is finishing her first term, and Mattina, now in her second term, filed nomination papers to run for reelection.
City Clerk Kelly Buendia told the council at its Tuesday night meeting that the nomination period was 26 days, five of which the city was closed for the Mendocino Complex mandatory evacuation.
She said one other individual came in to speak to staff about his interest in running. However, she said it turned out that he lives outside of the city limits.
When the filing period closed on Aug. 10, only Turner and Mattina had filed nomination papers, Buendia said.
Because there were not more candidates than offices to be elected in the general municipal election on Nov. 6, state election code allows for the council to appoint the candidates who were nominated.
Buendia presented to the council a resolution to appoint the two women to new terms. The accompanying report said that if the resolution was adopted, the general municipal election on Nov. 6 would be canceled and Mattina and Turner would be sworn in after that date.
The report also explained that by making the appointments, the process of filing any statement of write-in candidacy would be eliminated.
The appointment process is expected to save the city between $4,000 and $6,000, Buendia said.
Councilman George Spurr questioned if the women could be part of the vote and whether that would be a conflict of interest. City Attorney David Ruderman said conflicts revolve around income, and that their pay from city council service doesn’t qualify.
Spurr said he also had concerns about eliminating the write-in option. However, he spoke with the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office, which explained that to qualify as a write-in candidate, individuals still have to file paperwork.
Councilman Kenny Parlet said the two women have done a great job on the council.
The council then unanimously voted to appoint them.
Both women expressed their gratitude, with Mattina noting during her report later in the meeting that she is grateful to be able to continue for another four years.
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082118 Lakeport City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd