Item No. 1
Town of Atherton
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT – ACTION ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
GEORGE RODERICKS, CITY MANAGER
FROM: ANTHONY SUBER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER/ CITY CLERK
DATE: AUGUST 18, 2026
SUBJECT: CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION TO APPOINT FOUR (4) QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR THE NOVEMBER 3, 2026
BALLOT TO CITY COUNCIL AND CANCEL THE ATHERTON
CITY COUNCIL ELECTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH
ELECTION CODE 10229
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Council consider adopting a Resolution to appoint four (4) qualified candidates for the November 3, 2026 ballot to City Council and consider cancellation of the Atherton City Council election in accordance with the Election Code 10229.
BACKGROUND | ANALYSIS
The candidate filing period for the November 3, 2026, election closed Friday, August 7, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Two sitting Council Members opted not to submit Nomination Forms and Declaration of Candidacy Forms (Eric Lane and Stacy Holland). As a result, the Town was required to extend the candidate filing period for five (5) calendar days for both the full-term seat expiring December 2030 and the short-term seat expiring December 2028. The extended period closed on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM. No additional candidates filed for candidacy.
Four (4) candidates for City Council (Bill Widmer, Rick DeGolia, Christine David, Jerry Leugers) qualified for the open seats to be voted on at the General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Below is a list of the terms that each candidate filed to be considered for:
• Bill Widmer, 2-year term expiring December 2028
• Rick DeGolia, 4-year term expiring December 2030
• Christine David, 4-year term expiring December 2030
• Jerry Leugers, 4-year term expiring December 2030
Cancelling November 2026 Municipal Election
AUGUST 18, 2026
Elections Code 10229 states that if there are not more candidates qualified for the ballot than offices to be elected at a municipal election, one of the following courses of action may be taken by the City Council;
1. Appoint to the office the person(s) who have been nominated;
2. Appoint to the office any eligible voter if no one has been nominated; or
3. Hold the election if either no one or only one person has been nominated.
Option number 2 is not applicable because four (4) candidates have completed the nomination process during the candidate filing period qualifying for the ballot.
By Resolution (Attachment 1), the City Council may appoint Bill Widmer to the 2-year term expiring December 2028, Rick DeGolia to a 4-year term expiring December 2030, Christine David to a 4-year term expiring December 2030, and Jerry Leugers to a 4-year term expiring December 2030. These are the offices to which each were nominated. The persons appointed shall qualify and take office and serve exactly as if elected at a municipal election for the office.
A notice of publication that there are not more candidates than offices to be elected must be published in a newspaper of general circulation for at least five (5) days before the City Council can take action on Election Code § 10229. A notice ran in the San Mateo Daily and Almanac on August 13, 2026.
If the City Council does not take action to appoint the candidates by the 75th day before the election, August 20, 2026, EC 10229 states that the election will be held. This would allow for write-in candidates. If the Council makes the appointment and cancellation pursuant to EC 10229, the City Clerk shall not accept any filing documents or nomination documents of write-in candidates submitted after the appointment is made.
Public notification of the nominated period consisted of a Notice of Election published in local newspapers, electronic distributions, and use of public noticing boards.
FISCAL IMPACT
If the Council chooses to appoint the four (4) qualified candidates to office and cancel the election, the $15,000 budgeted for FY26-27 elections costs will be returned to the Unallocated General Fund.
GOAL ALIGNMENT
This Report and its contents are in alignment with the following Council Policy Goals:
• Goal F - Build Community & Promote Civic Engagement
• Goal D - Be Forward Thinking
Cancelling November 2026 Municipal Election
AUGUST 18, 2026
POLICY FOCUS
The recommendations in this report are consistent with Town policies and Council Goals. If the Council chooses to cancel the election and appoint the four (4) nominees, each would assume office in December 2026 and serve exactly as if elected at the election. The City Council opted to cancel elections based on the numbers of qualified candidates in 2016, 2018, and 2024.
If Council chooses not to cancel the election nomination papers for write-in candidates can be accepted from September 7 to October 20, 2026.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notification was achieved by posting the agenda, with this agenda item being listed, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting in print and electronically. Information about the project is also disseminated via the Town’s electronic News Flash and Atherton Online. There are approximately 1,200 subscribers to the Town’s electronic News Flash publications. Subscribers include residents as well as stakeholders –to include, but be not limited to, media outlets, school districts, Menlo Park Fire Protection District, service provides (water, power, and sewer), and regional elected officials.
COMMISSION/COMMITTEE FEEDBACK/REFERRAL
This item has not been before a Town Committee or Commission
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. 26-XX Cancel Nov 2026 Election
2. Notice of Facts (Exhibit A to Resolution)