August 07, 2009 at 9:49 PM

Members of the Board of Directors of the Chula Vista Civic Association met to launch a "taking it to the people" campaign on City Council's recent action to appoint an Interim City Councilmember to deployed Navy Reserve Officer John McCann's seat through an application process. The application process for filling council seats has proven contentious to the point that voters in Chula Vista passed city charter amendments that demanded that vacated council seats be filled through a vote of the public. Although not a vacancy, but a prolonged absence, Chula Vista Civic Association President & CEO Ed Herrera has stated that "...appointing the runner up in the last election is the most logicial and democratic solution that most honors the vote and will of the voters of Chula Vista." This approach is called the "Sunnyvale solution"--a precedent set in 2007 in  Sunnyvale, CA in which the City Council filled the seat of a Councilmember and Navy Reserve Officer who was activated to military duty, appointing the runner up in the most recent election to serve as a temporary replacement. The "Sunnyvale solution" was first discovered and suggested to City Council by Councilmember John McCann. Inspite of overwhelming public outcry in support of the "Sunnyvale solution" Councilwoman Pamela Bensoussan made the motion to fill through the port commissioner application process with her collegue Councilman Rudy Ramirez seconding that motion. Mayor Cheryl Cox, citing "good government," motioned prior to adopt the Sunnyvale approach, but the motion died for lack of support from all her council collegues.

Council meetings have been tainted by several personal attacks by Councilman Rudy Ramirez on Councilman John McCann. The off  the cuff statements have been on-going since McCann voted against the sales tax hike which Councilmembers Ramirez and Bensoussan championed. The statements escalated as McCann and Chula Vista Civic Association leaders proposed budget reform proposals. Councilmember Ramirez went too far for many, continuing the statements even after McCann was deployed, prompting military veteran brothers in arms and McCann's wife to come to the same council meeting to defend McCann's honor while he is in serving active duty in Iraq. Several question who will the opponents of the runner up process select and will their personal issues get the best of them. Mr.Herrera offered few details on what the campaign entail but stated that the supporters of the motions will be held accountable and efforts are already underway. "The era in Chula Vista of "whispers in the wind" actions and decisions ends here...Chula Vista deserves better. The people deserve better. We have good-hearted, honest, talented, and caring people at the CVCA who are committed to ensuring that." Herrera said.

Ethics: Full Coverage and Updates on McCann Seat