LAKEPORT >> At the Lakeport City Council meeting on Tuesday, Council Member Stacey Mattina and Mayor Mireya Turner were each appointed by the council to serve another term for the city, foregoing a standard election process. The cause for such appointment was due to the fact that not a single member of the community had chosen to run against either Mattina or Turner in the upcoming November 6 election.
According to City Clerk Kelly Buendia, the nomination opportunity for would-be candidates to Turner and Mattina’s positions was publicly posted on July 16, 2018 and remained until August 10, the end of the nomination period. At the end of this period, there were two candidates for two seats. Buendia said that “under election code 10229 the elections official—” Buendia herself, is obligated to give the city council the opportunity to “appoint those two nominated persons, which are Mireya Turner and Stacey Mattina.” The nomination period this year was shortened due to the fires, but Buendia said that the city saw almost zero interest in candidacy for Turner or Mattina’s positions.
Council Member George Spurr raised concerns that such an appointment in lieu of an election might create a conflict of interest for Turner and Mattina, who would be appointing themselves to paid positions. However, the City Attorney advised that no conflict of interest would arise: “under the Fair Political Practices Act [Political Reform Act of 1974], the interest has to be a financial one, and income—or per diems—from a government agency are not considered income when it comes to that.”
Buendia estimated that the city would save between $4,000 and $6,000, mostly on printing costs, should the election be waived for Turner and Mattina. The motion to appoint the two officials carried unanimously.
Mattina and Turner were happy to be able to continue in their roles for the city. Mattina said that “it’s been such an honor, and I’m grateful to get to continue for four years…We’ve gotten a lot done and we’re going to get a lot more done.”
In another item of business at Tuesday’s meeting, the council accepted a recommendation to consider the appointment of one council member to serve on the newly formed board of directors of a program to add at least one police dog to the Lakeport Police Department’s force. There was palpable excitement among the council members, who jumped at the chance to serve on the board. However, the decision as to which member will be appointed is forthcoming.
Also Tuesday, Gerardo “Gerry” Gonzalez, who retired in 2016 from his position as Willits Police Chief, was sworn in by Lakeport Chief Brad Rasmussen as the Lakeport Police Department’s newest Reserve Officer. Rasmussen said that Gonzalez is “going to be a great asset to the city,” noting a “lifetime of public service” and 32 years with the Willits Police Department. Gonzalez served as Mayor of Willits from 2016 to 2018.
