Sonoma declines to strip mayor of power to pick appointees

Despite complaints over his recent appointments, Sonoma Mayor David Cook won’t be stripped of his power to pick who gets to serve on city advisory committees.

The City Council this week voted 3-2 to continue to allow the mayor to handle the interviews and appoint residents to serve on the boards, such as the Planning Commission. The mayor still will be required to bring his picks before the rest of the council for final approval.

Council members Gary Edwards and Rachel Hundley voted against keeping the process the same, arguing it would be fairer and more transparent if other council members were allowed to take part in the interviews and decision-making.

“Right now it’s so nebulous,” Hundley said during Monday night’s meeting. “It depends on who’s mayor that year.”

She and Edwards previously questioned whether Cook was picking the most qualified candidates. Hundley said this week she wanted to see at least one more council member be part of the selection process.

“Having a second opinion to bounce things off of makes it a stronger choice,” she added.

Cook argued the system wasn’t flawed and that council members can vote against his nominations under the current process, which City Manager Carol Giovanatto said has been in place since 2002.

Council members previously reviewed the process in 2005, 2009 and 2013 but, in the end, never made any changes, Giovanatto said.

“Don’t fix what’s not broken,” Cook argued.

Councilwomen Laurie Gallian and Madolyn Agrimonti agreed, voting to leave the mayor to handle the appointments.

“(It’s) worked well to this point,” Gallian said.

You can reach Staff Writer Eloísa Ruano González at 521-5458 or ?eloisa.gonzalez@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @eloisanews.