A Dearth of Democracy: Why Sac City Voters Deserve an Election, Not an Appointment
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| Well Maybe! |
There has been a dearth of democracy lately here in Sacramento. Races big and small, from water board to mayor of Sacramento go begging for candidates or virtually uncontested. In some cases there is no election at all. This hasn't gone unnoticed. In his article in the Sacramento News and Review Cosmo Garvin focused on Sac City Unified board member Patrick Kennedy. Kennedy has been the "winner" in one uncontested race for the SCUSD board and currently faces no challenger for a county supervisor seat. Moreover, by voting to appoint a replacement for Ellyne Bell's seat on the SCUSD board instead of opting for an election, he helped deprive the residents of District 1 the chance to choose their own representative. But Kennedy's part in that appointment goes beyond his vote. There were machinations behind the scene to orchestrate that appointment.
The Bee reported in the fall of 2012 that Ellyne resigned from her seat in October because she had recently accepted a job in San Francisco and would be moving there. In fact, she had taken that job in February of 2012 and had moved to the Bay Area in May of that year when the job went full time. Instead of resigning then, she was persuaded to stay on the board past the filing date for the fall election. Kennedy was among those who convinced her that it would be better for the district if the board could appoint someone of their choosing. Ellyne told me this herself when I confronted her in September 2012 about her failure to resign in a timely manner so that an election could be held to replace her. She also told me that SCUSD legal counsel told her it was legal for her to hold her seat while living in the Bay Area, as long as she kept some belongings in her house in Sac
The Bee reported in the fall of 2012 that Ellyne resigned from her seat in October because she had recently accepted a job in San Francisco and would be moving there. In fact, she had taken that job in February of 2012 and had moved to the Bay Area in May of that year when the job went full time. Instead of resigning then, she was persuaded to stay on the board past the filing date for the fall election. Kennedy was among those who convinced her that it would be better for the district if the board could appoint someone of their choosing. Ellyne told me this herself when I confronted her in September 2012 about her failure to resign in a timely manner so that an election could be held to replace her. She also told me that SCUSD legal counsel told her it was legal for her to hold her seat while living in the Bay Area, as long as she kept some belongings in her house in Sac