Eligible Hollywood Park residents have until May 10 to apply for the soon-to-be-empty City Council Place 1 position.
Council Member Sean Moore, who is the Place 1 incumbent, is the lone applicant for the mayor’s office, as incumbent Mayor Oscar Villarreal did not file for re-election in the May 7 municipal election.
The council on April 19 voted 3-2 to encourage residents to contact City Secretary Patrick Aten to formally express interest in the Place 1 council seat, apply for the post and include biographical information.
Place 5 Council Member Glenna Pearce, who motioned for this process to fill the imminent vacancy, said the next council should have names of interested residents and determine whether any of them should be appointed to fill the Place 1 seat, a term that expires in May 2023.
“What I’d like to see is that it’s open to candidates and that those candidates are presented to the new council,” Pearce said.
While the current council agreed that the new council, which has its next scheduled meeting May 17, should get to fill the upcoming Place 1 vacancy, members were split on the degree to which the council appointment process should be open.
Place 2 Council Member Debbie Trueman, who is not seeking re-election this spring, said she would like to see resident Chester Drash at least get immediate consideration to replace Moore.
Trueman said there was confusion over Drash’s length of residency at the time of his attempt to apply for the mayoral position ahead of the May 7 election. According to city officials, Drash was determined ineligible to run for local public office at the time of his attempted application.
Drash addressed the council, saying he appreciated Trueman’s sentiment, but that the city should promote the council vacancy to entire community.
“I want you to pick who the best person is,” Drash said.
Drash also urged the city to have a more visible, consistent way by which to inform residents interested in running for local elected office or some other city board or commission.
“What’s the process now? I say I’m interested, but I bet you that more than 70% of people in this town don’t know how this happens,” Drash said.
Moore said he prefers the candidate who loses in the Place 2 race get serious consideration—if they are interested—to fill the remaining term of Place 1.
If that person is not interested, then the city should publicize the vacancy to all residents, Moore added.
Place 2 candidates Todd Kounse and Michael Hall are participating in Hollywood Park’s lone contested election May 7.
Moore also said he sympathized with Drash and the obstacles that Drash encountered while trying to file for the mayoral election. But, Moore said, it is ultimately up to each prospective candidate to ensure they meet all eligibility requirements to run for local public office.
“It’s not anyone else’s responsibility or fault,” Moore said.
Kounse addressed the council. He echoed Drash’s comments that it should be clear to residents how to pursue local public office, whether through election or an appointment.
“It baffles me that there’s not a process in place for this,” Kounse said.
Place 4 Council Member Delaine Hall, who is not seeking re-election, said candidates, such as Michael Hall or Kounse, should get priority consideration for the Place 1 position, because they have already been running for public office and spent money on their filing fee and to conduct a campaign.
Villarreal said he would rather wait until the new council is seated after the May 7 election to fully address the Place 1 vacancy.
“I believe this should be left up to the next council so those next council members can have input,” Villarreal said.
City officials said residents interested in the imminent Place 1 vacancy may contact City Secretary Patrick Aten at [email protected] or 210-494-2023, ext. 221, for more information.
