Fullerton City Council accepting applications for a vacant council seat

The Fullerton City Council is giving itself two weeks to see if it can find a consensus on who to appoint for a vacant seat.

The council is accepting applications for the vacant seat through 5 p.m. on Jan. 23. A special council meeting will be held Jan. 29 to make the appointment.

The council has a Feb. 2 deadline to fill the seat or a special election will automatically be held Nov. 5.

The council voted 3-1 on Tuesday, Jan. 15, to start the appointment process. Councilman Bruce Whitaker was the only one opposed, saying a special election is more transparent.

“When cost meets principle, the principle shouldn’t always fold,” he said.

The city estimates a special election would cost between $390,000 and $430,000.

Councilman Jesus Silva’s election in November to the new District 3 seat left his former at-large seat vacant. Whoever is appointed will fill that seat through 2020.

Councilman Ahmad Zahra, newly elected himself, got on board with the plan to appoint a replacement council member, saying he is now happy with the process the council is following, including that applicants will need to complete a conflict of interest form. He had hoped the city could hold a mail-in election to reduce costs of a public vote, but the city is too large under election laws.

“I think we have a transparent process that I feel comfortable at least exploring,” he said Wednesday, Jan. 16.

A public candidate forum is planned by Neighbors United for Fullerton before the appointment, Zahra said.