The Lafayette city council and staff met for a special meeting Aug. 25 to consider a bifurcated resolution which would allow the council to appoint the three council members - Teresa Gerringer, Susan Candell and Wei-Tai Kwok - who are the only registered candidates for the three open seats on the council, in lieu of them being put on the Nov. 8 ballot. The resolution was bifurcated into two resolutions so council members who did not want to vote for themselves could abstain from voting on the resolution involving them, according to city attorney Mala Subramanian.
The financial benefit for the city to appoint rather than to include candidates on the ballot would be a savings of approximately $37,000 to $58,000, according to City Clerk Joanne Robbins, who noted that the county charges the city $2 to $3 per registered voter for candidates' inclusion on the ballot. The council voted unanimously to approve the two resolutions. Gerringer, Candell, and Kwok, while appointed for the next term, plan to participate in the Oct. 13 Lafayette Homeowners Council candidates forum and welcome continued dialogue with the community.
The financial benefit for the city to appoint rather than to include candidates on the ballot would be a savings of approximately $37,000 to $58,000, according to City Clerk Joanne Robbins, who noted that the county charges the city $2 to $3 per registered voter for candidates' inclusion on the ballot. The council voted unanimously to approve the two resolutions. Gerringer, Candell, and Kwok, while appointed for the next term, plan to participate in the Oct. 13 Lafayette Homeowners Council candidates forum and welcome continued dialogue with the community.
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA