With no challengers to the three incumbent Pleasant Hill City Council members up for re-election in November, the council on Monday canceled its local November election.
In a directly related action, the City Council also appointed those three unopposed incumbents — Mayor Matthew Rinn and Councilmembers Ken Carlson and Tim Flaherty — to fill those three “open” spots, effective in
December, when those four-year terms end.
In December, Carlson and Flaherty will begin their third four-year council terms, and Rinn his second term.
Similarly, City Treasurer Mark Celio was also reappointed to that post, effective in December. Celio also did not draw any opponents for the treasurer’s position.
The city will save an estimated $38,500 by not holding the election, according to city spokesperson Gayle Vassar.
WOW! Not one challenger? Well, guess that doesn’t happens often.
It happened in Walnut Creek.
No one ran against Silva and Carlson. So they got the two vacant spots. Don’t remember the exact year. And don’t remember how much the city saved.
Silva and Carlston were appointed to the Walnut Creek council in November 2014. They were uncontested.
And how much the city saved from no election is a trick question.
Not sure how it works and I like the fact it saves money…
Isn’t “Write-In Candidate” still an option, so the election should be held????
Sure…no elections. That’s what you get when you have basically one party in your city/state.
Told you.
If no one wants to run, then no one else will ever be part of a different opinion, or voice.
Your ‘vote them out’ can’t work. And looking for ‘pragmatic’?
FYI, Pleasant Hill’s spokesperson retired from Walnut Creek a couple years ago. Used to be their spokesperson.
Musical chairs. That’s how cities roll.
But, hey, saving $38,500? Was anyone recently laid off who could get their job back? Not yet, got to see how much more the new library will end up costing.
Deja vu. 🙂
Cutting salaries and benefits like countless others have done saves money, and services too.
Considering all the complaining I hear I’m surprised. Actually I think people just like to get on he internet and complain. They don’t really want to do anything about it.
Yep Yep
I think much has to do with the effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on our local businesses, schools, and personal lives; and figuring out / settling into a related new lifestyle and a new normal. I mean, who has the time, who has room on his or her plate to run for city council, then serve a 4 year term? Plus, I think a PH city council election is about the last thing of concern on most PH residents’ minds right now. I haven’t given it even a second of thought.
Mary, myself and a few others toyed with the idea of running for Walnut Creek council. But it is difficult to break into a group so closed minded about THEIR agendas.
My friends and I sat down one night and crunched numbers. After checking salaries, we figured the two highest paid employees in the Lesher building have made over $4 million dollars. Mind you, the Lesher has never turned a profit from the day it opened.
If you want to run for a council seat, you better not start asking where the money is going for the Lesher or the library.
And you know what we found interesting. People are afraid to talk about city budgets. Until it’s too late.
The recent press from the city read budget cuts for the library, but if you go to the library foundation site, it reads the city has agreed to work with us to get the extra library hours funded. What does that mean?