At the council meeting on Wednesday, February 13, 2019, the city council unanimously voted to appoint a person at-large to fill the seat vacated by the death of Mayor Gregory S. Pettis. The council determined that appointing the next councilmember was the best option as it is less costly and has the potential to have the council seat filled within a few weeks. Their only other option was to call for a special election that would cost the city somewhere between $77,000 to $100,000 and would delay having a councilmember seated until the month of August at the very earliest.
Those who are interested in serving out the at-large term that expires in December 2020, must fill-out a questionnaire approved by the city council by going to www.CathedralCity.gov or by picking up an application at City Hall during normal business hours and submit their answers to the city clerk by the close of business (6 pm) on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. Potential candidates must be 18 years of age or older, a U.S. citizen, resident and registered voter in Cathedral City.
The city council will review and discuss the answers from potential candidates, and then attempt to appoint a councilmember during the February 27, 2019 council meeting. It will take a minimum of three of the four sitting councilmembers to vote in favor of a potential candidate to succeed in that person being appointed. Only those candidate(s) who submit written answers to the questionnaire will be considered for the position. If a candidate is chosen and the individual is present at the February 27, 2019 council meeting, the individual may be sworn-in immediately.
For more information, contact Tracey Martinez, City Clerk, at TMartinez@cathedralcity.gov or (760) 770-0322.
