Process for filling a vacancy in an elected
office pursuant to the Redondo Beach City
Charter
The heartbreaking passing of Mayor Bill Brand on
Friday, February 9th, 2024 has created a vacancy
in the position of Mayor. Section 6.4 of the City
Charter provides:
Any vacancy in the City Council, or any elective office, shall be filled as follows:
(a) If less than two (2) years remain in the unexpired term of the vacant office, such vacancy shall be filled by
appointment by the majority of the remaining members of the City Council within thirty (30) days following the
vacancy. . . . Any appointee shall hold office until the first day of the month following the next General Municipal
Election and until such appointee's successor is elected and qualified.
Redondo Beach Charter § 6.4. Vacancies;
special election.
Less than two years remain in the unexpired term of Bill Brand as Mayor as it was set to expire on April 1, 2025.
Therefore subsection (a) applies and the City Council
needs to appoint an eligible individual to fill the position within 30 days of the vacancy.
Redondo Beach Charter § 6.4. Vacancies;
special election.
In order to be eligible to serve as a Mayor Section 8.1, of the City Charter states:
No person shall be eligible to file as a candidate or hold office as Mayor unless such person shall be a registered voter of the City of Redondo Beach at the time of filing such person's nomination papers and shall have been a
resident of the City for at least thirty (30) days immediately preceding the date of such filing or appointment.
Redondo Beach Charter § 8.1. Mayor,
eligibility.
• There is not a specific process set out in the Charter as to how the Council is to decide which eligible individual to appoint. There are some varying past precedents.
Past Precedents
The last time there was a vacancy created in the position of Redondo Beach Mayor was in May, 1950. On May 15,
1950 Mayor Charles H. Wortham resigned. Subsequently,
the City Council unanimously appointed former Mayor
Clyde Marsh (who had previously served from 1943-1947)
as Mayor.
Past Precedents
The last time the Redondo Beach City Council filled a
vacancy in an elected office by appointment was in July, 2016. The resignation of City Councilmember Jeff
Ginsburg effective June 30, 2016 created a vacancy in
the position of City Council member from District 1. The City Council chose to follow the process used by the City of Torrance and solicit applications for appointment to the City Council from eligible District 1 residents.
Past Precedents
On July 19th, after interviewing a number of applicants, Councilmember Emdee made a motion, seconded by
Councilmember Brand, to appoint Martha Barbee as
Councilmember for District 1. The motion passed
unanimously.
Past Precedents
The options as to the process the Council could use to fill this vacancy are many. However, it is entirely up to the Council as to the best process to be used so long as you make the appointment within 30 days of the vacancy.
Past Precedents