Will the new Morgan Hill City Council with an appointed member try to represent all of us?
Two years ago at a City Council meeting, I commented that the problem with our elections was that we had too few candidates.
Councilmember Larry Carr responded that he was “troubled” by that view. He suggested that we do not have opposition candidates because the incumbents are all doing such a good job.
We just had an election with two incumbents and three challengers for two seats. One incumbent and one challenger won, with total votes cast for challengers exceeding total votes cast for incumbents: 15,350 to 11,702.
Some residents are arguing that a third place finish in a two-way race is the same as finishing third in a three-way race. I look at 15,350 votes cast for challengers and see a different message. We are looking for fresh eyes and fresh ideas.
Will the incumbents on the council provide a platform for fresh eyes and fresh ideas in their appointment of the tie-breaking fifth member? Or will they seek someone who will vote in lock-step with the returning council members? Those members have repeatedly claimed that they are a collegial group as they mostly vote 5-0.
A little more independence of thought would be welcome.
Since no appointment will likely satisfy everyone, I repeat my suggestion that the current vacancy be filled by lottery from the candidates who apply for the council position with limited vetting by the current council. An election or even a pseudo-election would give our residents a voice.
But the Council is in a rush to fill the position prior to their goal-setting Workshop at the end of January.
Doug Muirhead
Morgan Hill
