IRVINE : Election Reform Committee to Meet

The newly formed Election Reform Committee will meet Tuesday to begin considering methods of changing the city’s often criticized system for filling a City Council seat left open after a member is elected mayor.

The council formed the committee in January after it couldn’t agree on a new election system.

Under the current system, adopted by voters in 1987 and 1988, a council seat left open by a newly elected mayor is filled by the second-place finisher in the council election or by a special election if enough voters sign petitions calling for one.

The open council seat is created only when a council member in midterm wins election to mayor. That situation has occurred in the two elections since voters began choosing their mayor in 1988.

The current system is flawed because voters are not told on ballots that a loser in the mayoral race might win a two-year council term. Also, wording required on petitions calling for a special council election fails to mention that the open council seat has, in effect, already been filled by the runner-up in the mayoral election.

At Tuesday’s 4:30 p.m. meeting, the committee will look at how other cities handle the election matter and discuss methods suggested by committee members. The committee is expected to meet twice more before sending its recommendation to the City Council.