Pasadena City Council is set to interview a trio of candidates for a vacancy in District 3 on Thursday, Sept. 29, under a framework approved by the council this week.
The vacancy was created by the death of Councilman John J. Kennedy in July, which resulted in repercussions that have never had been faced in Pasadena.
Because the Council must be filled by Oct. 4 and it was too late to piggyback on the upcoming elections occurring in Los Angeles County this November, city leaders decided in August after hours of back-and-forth that they would fill the vacant seat on City Council by appointment.
It was also determined that the city charter does not grant Pasadena officials the ability to hold a special election themselves at a later date.
As a result, according to a city report, an ad hoc committee comprised of Mayor Victor Gordo, Councilmembers Tyron Hampton, Steve Madison, and Jess Rivas have met in recent weeks to discuss the specifics of the appointment process.
Gordo acknowledged during Council on Monday it will look a bit different than the years when Councilwoman Jess Rivas and Councilman Andy Wilson were selected.
According to Council, applicants will provide a 5- to 7-minute introduction and overview of their background, qualifications, and involvement in Pasadena and District 3 issues. They will then answer a set number of questions before councilmembers are given up to three additional minutes to ask unscripted questions.
Gordo said the changes provide “an opportunity to have more of a free flow discussion that’s based on follow up questions in the candidates record of involvement in Pasadena.”
Madison believed it’s key “to get as much input and feedback from the residents of that district as to what their wishes and expectations are,” he said, because the Council has been called on to determine who will represent a district that they are not a part of.
Councilman Andy Wilson seconded the sentiment, asking if it was possible for residents living in the district to submit questions for the applicants vying to be appointed.
“If we can publicize, you know, a call to those residents to submit questions,” Wilson said, that the city could track – that would be great.
Wilson also addressed any critics who believe a two-year appointment would be too long for the trio of candidates in the running, noting he and Councilwoman Jess Rivas were both appointed to serve a length of time only a few weeks less than what Rev. Lucious Smith, Brandon Lamar and Justin Jones will serve once they are selected.
“So it’s not wildly different,” Wilson said.
Gordo clarified the Council retains the ability to make two separate appointments, and “nothing predetermines” the initial appointment will be the second appointment.
“The council will have maximum flexibility,” Gordo said. “But I do think Mr. Madison’s point that we listen carefully to residents of District 3 is an important one.”
It’s also important to the ad-hoc committee, Gordo added, that members of the Council disclose if they had any contact or conversations with the applicants.
“I know I received, for example, phone calls from at least two of them,” Gordo said, “before they were formal candidates for appointment… mostly informing me that they would be throwing their hat in the ring.”
He also ran into “the third candidate at an event last week,” Gordo said. But no conversations were had about their “specific qualifications or candidacy.”
