Walnut City Council to Consider How to Fill Vacancy

The Walnut City Council will soon have a vacancy and must figure out how to fill it.

Earlier this month, Mayor Tom King announced that he plans to retire effective July 1

The council Wednesday night will take a look at how to fill his vacancy. Options include either making an appointment for the seat or leaving it vacant until the April election, according to a staff report.

If the council members decide to appoint someone, they must do so by Aug. 29. The appointee would serve until the city's next municipal election on April 8. 

King, who has served on the City Council since 2002, said that he and his wife Marjorie recently sold their Walnut home and plan to move out of town.  King also has previously served on the Planning and Parks & Recreation commissions. 

He read a letter to his fellow council members and the public at a meeting earlier this month.

"The last 16 years as a council member and a commissioner have been one of the highest honors of my life," King said. “I have no regrets as I know you will protect the Walnut way of life and remain committed to honest and open government.”

In a memorandum to the council, City Attorney Michael Montgomery said that Walnut does not have a procedure in place at this time for filling vacancies, but could adopt one. 

The prospect of a special election to fill the seat is off the table because it could not be held until April.

"Since the City has a regular election on April 8, it would not make sense to call a special election, since that's when the term runs out," Montgomery wrote in the memo.  "Therefore, the City would not be bound by the (60-day) cut-off, and the seat may remain vacant, or filled if that is the Council's decision."

King was selected by his fellow council members to serve as mayor in April. His term as mayor can be filled on an interim basis by any member of the council without affecting the rotation. That means that Mayor Pro Tem Antonio "Tony" Cartegena can serve as interim mayor and still become mayor next term, Montgomery said in the memo.  The council can also start a new time for the one-year mayor's term. 

The Walnut City Council meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday night at City Hall, 21201 La Puente Road.

What do you think the city should do about the council vacancy? Appoint someone to serve or let the seat remain open until the next election? Tell us in comments.