Petaluma's six City Council members may vote to appoint a seventh member during a special meeting Monday night.
Nineteen applicants are seeking the spot, including seven candidates from November's elections.
The appointment is seen as critical to both sides of the ideologically split board, whose members differ on how strictly the council should oversee applications for private development projects in Petaluma.
Three who are on the council- Mayor David Glass, Tiffany Renee and Teresa Barrett - want stronger oversight and additional conditions on development. The other three - Mike Harris, Mike Healy and newcomer Chris Albertson - favor a more hands-off approach.
If the council can reach a four-person vote for any of the applicants, the new member could become a swing vote on potentially controversial projects, including the Deer Creek Village proposal, which includes a Lowe's home improvement store.
The vacancy was created when Glass was elected mayor in November, halfway through his council term. Petaluma is the only city in the county that elects its mayor separately. The term expires at the end of 2012.
Applicants include former interim city manager Gene Beatty, ex-Mayor Pam Torliatt and three former Petaluma school board trustees: Christina Kauk, Rick Parker and Lou Steinberg.
The seven-page application asked applicants to discuss their values and priorities about issues including development, budget and collaboration with other city leaders and staff.
Others seeking the position are: Durward "Chips" Armstrong, Wyatt Bunker, Paul Clary, Harry Clifford III, Jason Davies, Dmitri Evdokimoff, Daryl Johnson, Ray Johnson, Gabe Kearney, Jeff Mayne, Bryant Moynihan, Karen Nau, Dennis Pocekay and Sara Sass.
Bunker, Davies, Ray Johnson, Kearney and Nau all lost in their bids for election to three open council seats in November. Mayne ran for mayor and Torliatt for county supervisor.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at 11 English St. The discussion is scheduled to come after a vote on committing millions of dollars to redevelopment projects in the city.
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