From: PETE BABICH
To: City Clerk
Cc: Steve Vaus; Caylin Frank; Peter De Hoff; Anita Edmondson; Brian Pepin; Chris Hazeltine; Wendy Kaserman Subject: City Council Meeting, 12/3, Item 12
Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 11:07:13 AM
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EXTERNAL EMAIL
Ms. Gallagher,
The staff report states that a special election created by Council Member's resignation "must be held on the next regularly established election date."
Those dates are
mainly the standard primary and general election dates.
However, since 2018, there
have been 7 special elections in San Diego County NOT held on the established election dates.
The timing of the regular election dates leads one to conclude that filling the vacancy by appointment is the better option.
However, California Election Code, Division 4, Chapter 1, Item 4004 states that a special election in a "small city," conducted entirely by mail and not linked to established election dates, could be used to fill a council vacancy:
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml? lawCode=ELEC§ionNum=4004.
Why can't a special election conducted entirely by mail be used to fill the council vacancy?
It would allow the city to hold an election not linked to the established election dates.
Pete Babich
15997 Grey Stone Rd, Poway
858-212-9191
I
From: J Boyce
To: City Clerk; Councilmembers
Subject: 12/3/24 meeting Item #12
Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 8:07:20 AM
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EXTERNAL EMAIL
December 2, 2024
Council members,
After this last election, it is quite apparent that the community is not happy with this mayor and
council. The closed meeting made it very apparent how member Franks and Vaus feel about their constituents. No one has heard any acknowledgment of regret from either person and that is blatant disrespect. Especially to the specific people mentioned by name and laughed at.
With the resignation of member Pepin, it is time that District 1 is granted a special election to choose their new representation to sit on the council. Not someone hand picked to vote in projects that the community clearly does not support.
New council members are the beginning of change that the community wants. That was made apparent by the voting down of Prop H. Poway may not look how it does now had we had that opportunity on some of the newest projects on Poway Rd and the hole that has had water pumped out of it for years. That could have been avoided had you have listened to the concerns of the people, now that is Vaus’ legacy.
We want a special election. Not another appointment.
Jennifer Boyce
Poway resident
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From: [email protected]
To: City Clerk
Subject: 12/3/24 Council Meeting Item #12
Date: Monday, December 2, 2024 7:22:29 PM
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EXTERNAL EMAIL
Council Members,
Please choose a special election to fill the vacant D1 seat. After years of making appointments to vacant council seats, now is the time to govern by and for the people of Poway.
Sincerely,
Howard Collins
From: [email protected]
To: City Clerk
Subject: 12/3/24 Council Meeting Item #12
Date: Monday, December 2, 2024 6:56:54 PM
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EXTERNAL EMAIL
Council Members,
There is only ONE fair and transparent choice, and that is to hold a special election and let the people in D1 decide who will represent them on the council. Please choose a special election to fill the vacant seat.
Sincerely,
Phyllis Collins
From: Dianne
To: City Clerk
Cc: Councilmembers
Subject: Item #12 Council Meeting 12/3/2024
Date: Monday, December 2, 2024 5:01:24 PM
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EXTERNAL EMAIL
I am in favor of letting the people of D1 vote for who they want to represent them in the council. Prove to the citizens of Poway that you (the council), actually listen to what the people want.
Dianne Decker-Houser
From: Kathy
To: Councilmembers
Subject: Special election needed
Date: Monday, December 2, 2024 9:03:10 PM
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EXTERNAL EMAIL
I am writing to express my opinion regarding the replacement for Mr Pepin. You must realize how suspicious it looks that he is leaving before the ballots are even counted from the last election! There can’t be another explanation for the timing other than that the Council wants to choose his replacement.
Please know that we are onto your tricks. The assigning of Ms Franks reeked of impropriety. Please don’t make the same mistake again. You must have a special election, regardless of the cost. You are the ones who created this mess and the city is left to pick up the tab! But, we are willing to spend the money so we can pick our own representatives.
Sent from my iPad
From: Karen
To: Councilmembers; Steve Vaus
Subject: Request for a Special Election to Fill the District 1 Vacancy Date: Monday, December 2, 2024 7:43:22 PM
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EXTERNAL EMAIL
Dear Mayor Vaus and Poway City Councilmembers,
I am writing to urge you to hold a special election to fill the District 1 vacancy created by Brian Pepin’s resignation. Poway deserves a transparent and democratic process that allows residents to choose their representative.
Our city has a troubled history with appointments, which have eroded trust and created a sense of disconnection between the community and its leaders. In recent elections, voters made it clear they want accountability and representation, not decisions made behind closed doors.
Appointing someone to this critical role would only deepen this lack of trust and undermine the democratic values our city stands for.
A special election is not just a procedural formality—it’s a chance to show Poway residents that their voices matter. While the costs of a special election may be a concern, the long-term cost of public distrust is far greater. Giving District 1 voters the opportunity to choose their representative is an investment in our community’s future and the integrity of our local government.
Please demonstrate your commitment to democracy and transparency by prioritizing the voices of District 1 residents. I urge you to hold a special election and let the people decide who will represent them.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Karen Machamer
14613 Selsey St, Poway, CA 92064
[email protected]
858-602-6153
1-
From: Carey Mann
To: Councilmembers
Subject: Appoint or elect
Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 6:42:01 AM
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EXTERNAL EMAIL
I strongly support a special election NOT an
appointment.
I and most other Powegians want a say in
such an important decision.
Show that you are with us,
not with rich developers who care nothing for Poway but everything for their own money gain.
Carey Mann
13382 Calle Colina
I
From: Niehoff Jessica
To: Councilmembers
Subject: Council member replacement
Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 5:02:25 PM
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EXTERNAL EMAIL
Attention Poway City Council :
Since Mr Pepin is stepping down from his council position, I would suggest we include the residents of Poway in the decision of who will replace him.
I would prefer residents themselves share input upon who represents them on the council, rather than the council itself appointing a replacement of their choosing.
Thank you for considering this option.
Jessica Niehoff
17141 Saint Andrews Drive
Poway, Ca
A voluntary choice to vacate ones
commitment regardless of
reasoning should not cost the
citizens their voice.
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“I launched the Recall Rexford
campaign with one goal . . .to give the
people of Poway a voice.”
–Steve Vaus: March 23, 2010
I I
□
VOICE ASSISTANT Y
The number of registered voters in District 1 is less
than the voters that actually voted in the 2010
special election.
A District 1 special election financial cost would be
less than what it cost in 2010.
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0 2010 2025
■ Population ■ Voters
Per the San Diego Country registrar elections and
campaign division via email on 12/2/2024:
“It will be up to the City Council to call a
special election, and the method of the
election (i.e., mail only or vote center).”
2014California’s 79th Assembly District following the
resignation of Assemblyman Ben Hueso.
2018San Diego City Council District 4 seat after the
resignation of Myrtle Cole.
2020California’s 50th Congressional District following
the resignation of Duncan Hunter.
2023San Diego County District 4 following resignation
of Nathan Fletcher.
1)Can reduce confidence in the efficacy of the city
council.
2)Optics could indicate that the residents voices of
D1 do not concern the city.
3) It could indicate the acknowledgement that the
role of city council member is inconsequential and
thus anyone the council selects should be just fine.
Appointment
From: Rebekah Seidel
To: Councilmembers
Subject: Opposed to appointing replacement for Brian Pepin Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 11:29:19 AM
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EXTERNAL EMAIL
Dear Poway Mayor and City Council Members,
I am adamantly opposed to the Poway Mayor and/or Poway City Council appointing a replacement for Brian Pepin.
I am not in District 1, however decisions made by the City Council as a whole affect all residents of Poway. Either leave the seat vacant or hold a special election for the residents of District 1.
Referencing: City Council Meeting, December 3, 2024, Item 12.
Thank you,
Rebekah Seidel
12866 Indian Trail Road
Poway, CA 92064
From: Sharon Starkey
To: City Clerk
Cc: Councilmembers
Subject: 12/3/24 Council Meeting Item #12
Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 10:43:11 AM
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EXTERNAL EMAIL
Councilmembers,
Tonight you will decide how to fill the vacant seat in D1 due to Councilmember Pepin’s resignation. There is only one choice that makes sense for our city at this time: Hold a special election and let the people in D1 decide who will represent them on the council.
The recent Poway election results reveal that there is a huge disconnect between the current council members and the Poway voters. Even though the council’s preferred candidates raised and spent the most money and had the support of Fire Dept and LE and numerous PACs, they lost. The heavily funded campaign to pass Measure H, which was put on the ballot by the council also lost, and lost big. The public is angry because the council is not listening to us, they mock residents and groups like Poway Voices, ignore petitions, and keep voting for unpopular General Plan and Specific Plan changes like LifeTime Fitness, and Harmon Ranch. The leaked closed session revealed that the council is quite comfortable making decisions behind closed doors that they know residents don’t want. Appointing a replacement for D1 council member will reinforce that the council has a different vision for Poway than what the residents have, and that the council wants to keep the residents uninformed and uninvolved in the decision making process, without a representative who speaks for them.
Although a special election will cost money, there is also a cost to our city if the residents believe our council is not working for us..
Hopefully, having a special election for council vacancies will become the new normal. Hopefully, the idea of transferring the council seats to cronies who have no connection to the people they represent, will become a thing of the past. Hopefully, people won’t run for office, or for re-election with plans to quit and give their seat to a preferred accomplice. Hopefully, we will get back to government of, by and for the people.
Please choose a special election to fill the vacant seat. That choice says everything about how you plan to govern over the next 2 years.
Sincerely,
Chris Cruse
We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.
From: Jade
To: Councilmembers
Subject: Hold a special election to replace pepin
Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 6:42:07 AM
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EXTERNAL EMAIL
Hi mayor and councilmembers,
Holding an election to replace Brian Pepin is the right thing to do and what the people of Poway deserve.
Continuing to appoint and fund members isn’t fair, let us choose who we want to represent us.
Thank you,
Jade Zwinger
Pequot Drive
8586632663