Chula Vista City Council voted to call two seats vacant on Dec. 20. Former council member Steve Padilla was elected to serve California Senate District 18, leaving his seat open, and deputy city attorney Simon Silva, who died shortly before elections, won the election, leaving the city attorney seat open.
For the city attorney position, Chula Vista must hold a special election due to the city’s municipal code, but the discussion between the newly appointed council was whether to combine the two seats in a special election or appoint the vacant District 3 seat.
Mayor John McCann proposed holding a special election for both seats so both representatives would be elected “by the people,” and that placing the District 3 election along with the city attorney election would have minimal additional costs.
“I believe if we could marry the District 3 special election with the city attorney special election, it would be great,” said McCann. “We would have District 3 voters vote for their representative. I support democracy.”
Council members Andrea Cardenas, Carolina Chavez, and newly appointed deputy mayor Jose Preciado all said that waiting for a District 3 representative until Nov. 7, 2023, would leave District 3 unrepresented too long.
“My issue for waiting for a special election is the lack of representation the citizens of District 3 will have until that happens,” said Cardenas, adding that a quick election in spring 2023 would not enfranchise the community. “In my opinion it leads to people having special interests with people funding their campaigns to get elected very quickly. I think it does the opposite of what we are trying to do, which is to actually listen to the voices in District 3,” adding she did worry that if Council could not come to a consensus on the appointment, it would cost the city by having to hold a separate special election.
City Clerk Kerry Bigelow said the costs of appointment are minimal as it only requires a little more staff time to conduct the process.
The timeline for the appointment process for District 3 representative is as follows.
• The application period is from Dec. 23, through Jan. 6, 2023.
• Applicants must be a District 3 registered voter.
• On Jan. 6, 2023, application due, including required components.
• Jan. 17, 2023, or other meeting date set by City Council, Council will nominate applicants for interviews and set date for interviews.
• Jan.19, 2023, Nominees submit Economic Disclosure form
• TBD, Interview candidates
• Applicants must provide an application, a two-page resume, a one-page bio, and if selected for interview, must submit an Economic Disclosure form.
McCann said the appointment process must be fully transparent, open to the public, and follow the “letter of the law.”
Council voted to set the vote center modeled special election for city attorney for Nov. 7, 2023. The cost for a vote center model election is $1.5 – $2 million. The time frame for special election is:
• Candidate filing period is July 17 through Aug. 11, 2023
• Provides 11 months for candidate fundraising.
• Consolidating with other election is not anticipated, but possible.
• Election certified by Dec. 7, 2023.
• If required, potential runoff dates are March 5, 2024, or April 2024
• Earliest possible date member seated is in December 2023.
• Latest anticipated member seated if runoff required is April or May 2024.
