Monte Sereno council seeks candidates for its open seat
By Nathan R. Huff
Monte Sereno has put out a casting call for aspiring policy makers, and six citizens already have unofficially stepped forward to fill former councilman Joel Gambord's seat.
The council decided on April 4, that it would definitely add a member to its ranks, but wanted to wait until proper notice could be given to interested residents. The council set an April 13, noon deadline on applications. Interviews will be at 6 p.m. the same day at the Monte Sereno City Hall.
The appointed council member will serve the remainder of Gambord's term, which expires in November, and, if interested in retaining the seat, would have to run for re-election. Gambord resigned on March 21, saying he felt he could no longer serve the city since he planned to move to Carmel or Pebble Beach in the near future.
Gambord said that in leaving he believed the council should appoint the highest vote-getter in the past election. That person would be Rosemary Scher, one of three candidates Gambord and Councilman Gordon Knight unsuccessfully campaigned for in the 1998 election.
However, Mayor Suzanne Jackson and councilman Jack Lucas, both of whom Knight and Gambord hoped to replace in 1998, said at the April 4 meeting that there was no precedent for appointing anyone based on the previous election.
The four-member council agreed that the city needed to appoint someone. "I believe this council has a responsibility to the citizens to represent the city with a full card," Knight said, adding that he felt the council should make an effort to bring younger people into the process.
Other council members also expressed their desire to see a full council, even though it means staff will have to train a new council member. Staff may be faced with a far greater challenge in November when as many as three seats may be open. In addition to the interim council member's seat, elections will be held for Knight's seat and possibly Jackson's. Jackson's seat would depend on her success in the District 24 Assembly race where she is running as the Republican candidate.
Anyone interested in applying for the interim council seat may submit to City Hall a one-page letter of intent, highlighting past experience, goals and the reason for applying. Council hopefuls must be Monte Sereno residents and registered voters.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
