A Deadlocked Council Finally Reaches Compromise

After weeks of deliberation over whether to hold a special election later this year or wait until the General Election of 2013 to fill the vacant city council seat left by Andy Klein, the split council finally came to a compromise at Tuesday night's meeting.

The council decided to wait until the General Election, with the legally non-enforceable caveat that whomever is appointed interim city councilman will be asked to promise not to run in the 2013 election.

"Politics is known as the art of compromise," said Councilman Mark Olbert on his blog. "Tonight the City Council, divided over when and how to hold an election to fill the vacancy created by Andy Klein’s departure, came together on a compromise approach originally proposed by Matt Grocott."

Nine applicants have applied to fill the seat left unoccupied by Klein. Those ten are Farrokh Albuyeh, Karen Clapper, Ricardo Garcia-Pacheco, John Hoffmann, Cameron Johnson, Sally Mitchell, Steven San Filippo, Inge Tiegel-Doherty, and a returning Brad Lewis, who was appointed last year to the position. 

"This isn’t my preferred outcome," said Olbert, who had sided with Mayor Grocott to hold a special election in 2012. "I believe we should appoint someone to serve until November, 2012, and then call a special election to let the voters decide.

"But it’s important we put this issue behind us so we can address the important topics facing our community. A compromise lets us do that. Which is why I support it."

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