URGENT CALL TO ACTION 08/04/09: McCann Council Seat "Interim Appointment" Put on Agenda

August 03, 2009 at 6:08 PM

Ethics: Full Coverage and Updates on McCann Seat

In what many are calling a "blatantly sneaky," swift move, with all the cameras off and low public attention, certain City Councilmembers who originally said Council should hold off on the deployed McCann seat, scurried to place the topic as an item under the Council agenda for this Tuesday night.

Multiple reports have indicated aggressive lobbying by special interests for a "union-friendly" appointee. Reportedly, labor union favorites and financially-backed Councilmembers Rudy Ramirez, Steve Castaneda, and Pamela Bensoussan, are behind the move. Multiple reports have also indicated that they personally are intent on filling the seat through an “application process.”  The item was placed on the agenda by Councilwoman Bensoussan. When Councilman Ramirez was asked about the agenda item he claimed he did not know anything about it and has not "discussed the issue with anyone." Notably, one assumed favored appointee is Bensoussan, Ramirez, Castaneda personal friend Mitch Thompson, who with the support of their colleagues appointed him to the City's Planning Commission. Thompson was previously endorsed by Ramirez and Castaneda for a failed school board bid and was a generous contributor to the contentious "Pamela Bensousan for City Council” campaign in 2008. Most recently, Thompson was also the spokesperson for the overwhelmingly defeated Proposition "A"--local initiative placed on the May 5th ballot by City Council, for which a costly special election was ordered and would have increased the Chula Vista sales tax to almost 10%. Many argue a Thompson or similar appointee would be in stark contrast to McCann, a fiscal conservative and anti-tax advocate. This would further stifle debate on an already slanted Council composition 4-1. (See #1)

The logical and most democratic answer is the Sunnyvale solution—appoints the highest vote getter in the most previous election as City council did in Sunnyvale, California (See #2) 



The Sunnyvale solution:

  • Most honors spirit and intent of voters which passed charter amendments requiring a vote of the people to fill council seats

The Sunnyvale solution most protects against:

  • Cronyism
  • Political Agendas
  • Special Interests
Recently, National City had a vacancy and U.S. Congressman Bob Filner said: "Appoint by general election, fill vacancy... appoint from the [results of the higher runner up in the last] election... you have the best of both worlds you get the appointment and avoid backgroom deal accuations...." 

San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Union representative Daniel Roftenrsky said appoint by runner-up in last election

It is clear, Democrats and Republicans agree: appoint the runner-up

To not support the Sunnyvale solution is undemocratic and un-American

 

"Tell Chula Vista City Council to honor the vote and will of the people."

 

 

CALL TO ACTION:  08/04/2009 CITY COUNCIL MEETING

 

Tuesday August 4, 4PM (Council meeting starts at 4pm; We will meet at the steps in front of Chula Vista City Council Chambers 4-6pm; the Agenda item to be discussed by City Council at approximately 6pm--Please make every effort to be at City Hall as prior as possible to 6pm)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. “SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Sunnyvale City Councilmembers dealt with the temporary vacancy created by Councilmember Otto Lee’s call up from the Navy Reserve to active duty and pending deployment to Iraq for a one-year tour of duty. Councilmember Lee holds a Navy commission as a commander.

 

Councilmembers expressed a desire that whomever is appointed to fill Councilmember Lee’s seat, that person should hold values similar to Councilmember Lee’s in order to try to continue the work Councilmember Lee has supported.”

(City of Sunnyvale, CA Press Release Dated Jan. 07, 2009)

 

 

 

 

2. VOTE: 5-1 (Councilmember Whittum dissented; Councilmember Lee recused)

 

MOTION #2: Councilmember Howe moved and Councilmember Swegles seconded to approve

 

Council elects to appoint an interim replacement for Councilmember Lee during his active military duty pursuant to California Military and Veteran’s Code Section 395.8;

 

Council confirms that a temporary appointee will have all the powers of the office;

 

Council approves the process, whereby the candidate, in the November 6, 2007 election, with the highest number of votes, who did not obtain office, will be appointed; and

Council directs the City Manager to provide the Mayor with the official election results from the November 6, 2007 Election and the mayor will contact that individual, specifically, to find out if the individual is interested in serving; the Mayor will provide that information to the City Manager; and staff will bring a report to Council on January 6, 2009.


Ethics: Full Coverage and Updates on McCann Seat