DEL MAR — The city of Del Mar is moving forward with an appointment process to fill a seat on the City Council that will be vacant after Dwight Worden resigns later this month.
Worden, who has served on the council since 2014, announced in late August that he would resign effective Sept. 24. The city then has 60 days to either make an appointment or call a special election to fill the seat for the remaining two years of his term.
The City Council voted 3-1-1 on Monday to proceed with the appointment process, with Dan Quirk opposed and Worden abstaining. The application is now available on the City Council webpage until Sept. 27 at 4:30 p.m.
The city is tentatively planning to hold applicant interviews and select an appointee at the City Council’s Oct. 7 meeting. Applicants must be 18 or older and residents and registered voters of the City of Del Mar.
The council majority noted that the appointment process would fill the vacancy faster and cost far less than a special election, which would not be able to take place until March 2025 and could cost up to $250,000.
“The people of Del Mar really do like to be able to vote for their council members. However, the special election is extremely expensive compared to an appointment,” Councilmember Terry Gaasterland said.
Quirk was the sole council member to speak in favor of a special election. He said he is unlikely to agree with his fellow council members on a candidate because they disagree on important issues like the rail.
He also claimed that the appointed person would likely feel obligated to the council members who appointed them.
“The vulnerability of an appointed council member to feel obligated to those that appoint them is quite strong, and there’s a lot of important issues here, and frankly, I think the city needs to turn in a radically different direction. I am strongly inclined to a special election,” Quirk said.
Other council members disagreed, stating that a candidate would be chosen based on their qualifications and would be expected to be an independent council member.
“I don’t think whenever we appoint for DRB (Design Review Board) or Planning (Commission), I don’t feel they’re beholden to me. I feel like they’re a qualified candidate based on the questions that I might ask or others ask, and I form an opinion on that,” said Councilmember Tracy Martinez.
The City Council webpage under “City Councilmember Vacancy” contains links to the application and more information about the appointment process.
In addition to the appointment and Worden’s resignation, the council makeup will see further changes with the regularly scheduled Nov. 5 election, where three general seats are open. Quirk and Martinez are running alongside newcomer John Spelich, and Mayor Dave Druker is stepping down at the end of his term.
