Anaheim Mayor Leaving to Be Supervisor : Council Splits on Replacing Roth

The newly sworn-in Anaheim City Council split, 2-2, Tuesday on who should fill the council seat vacated by Don R. Roth, who was chosen in the Nov. 4 election to replace Ralph B. Clark on the Board of Supervisors.

Two council members said they strongly support William D. Ehrle, 44, who ran for one of three council seats Nov. 4 and trailed closely in fourth place. Two other council members were just as emphatic: They don’t want Ehrle.

“I realize and also hope we can appoint” a replacement for Roth rather than hold a special election, said Mayor Pro Tem Irv Pickler. But, he continued, “I, for one, will not consider Bill Ehrle.”

Councilwoman Miriam Kaywood said she agreed with Pickler.

Mayor Ben Bay made his support for Ehrle public for the first time Tuesday. Citing the election results, Councilman Fred Hunter also has expressed his support for Ehrle.

Election Cost Put at $60,000

Roth said he will leave the council at the end of next month to prepare for his new position.

A special election to replace Roth would cost about $60,000, City Clerk Lee Sohl said. Bay said the cost is secondary to the time lost until an election could be held.

“To be seated here divided 2 to 2 is an untenable position for the council to be in,” Bay said.

That fifth vote is important to another city official as well: City Manager William O. Talley’s job could hang in the balance.

On Tuesday, Hunter made good on a campaign promise by bringing up the issue of Talley’s job. Talley was criticized by several candidates during the council campaigns.

But when Hunter made a motion asking his colleagues to postpone any decisions regarding Talley’s contract until a fifth councilman is selected, there was no second.

When Pickler criticized the motion as being out of order, Bay killed further discussion by pointing out that there had been no second and thus no debate would follow.

During his campaign, Ehrle said he would vote to oust Talley.

Talley said the candidates criticized him because “in a campaign with no issues, the issue becomes the city manager.”