Cotati council to appoint new member

The Cotati City Council will appoint a replacement for former Mayor John Guardino, who resigned last month.

The council Tuesday briefly considered holding a special election to fill the seat, but decided that would take too long and voted 3-1 to appoint a new councilmember.

Under the law, a replacement for Guardino must be named by Nov. 22, or an election must be called. But city staff said the earliest that an election could happen was in April.

Councilmembers said that would leave the seat empty for five more months, and then, because Guardino was up for re-election in November 2010, his replacement would have to run for office after seven months.

"That doesn't make any sense to me," said Councilwoman Janet Orchard.

Several Cotati residents on Tuesday urged the council to hold a special election.

"Any appointment by this council will silence not one but thousands of voices in this town," said Mike Sheehan.

"I do not want to see a crony, a buddy or next-door neighbor handed the open seat, or some backroom deal worked out to select an individual merely because he or she lost in a previous election by only a few votes," he said.

That is one option open to the council; they could appoint a runner-up from last year's race.

Councilman George Barich -- whom faces a recall election Tuesday -- agreed with Sheehan, saying the financially hard-pressed town was facing a "critical period."

"It's not in the best interests of the city to have the people not have their say," said Barich.

City manager Dianne Thompson said applications for the seat will be accepted until Wednesday. The council is to name its choice at the Wednesday council meeting.

You can reach Staff Writer Jeremy Hay at 521-5212 or jeremy.hay@pressdemocrat.com