Baldwin Park : Council Vacancy Filled

In a 2-to-1 vote, the Baldwin Park City Council on Wednesday appointed public relations specialist and Chamber of Commerce President Teri Muse to fill a vacant council seat until April’s election.

The seat was vacated by Bobbie Izell, who resigned Dec. 31, City Clerk Linda L. Gair said. Izell, who had missed 24 council meetings in 1993 because of his travel schedule, resigned because he is moving to Arkansas, Gair said.

Declaring that the city deserves full representation by a five-person council, Mayor Pro Tem Martin Gallegos nominated Muse, a spokeswoman for Kaiser Permanente, which is building a hospital and medical center in Baldwin Park. Muse has also served as a city human services commissioner.

The nomination was seconded by Councilman Raul Martinez. Councilwoman Julia S. McNeill praised Muse but said the seat should remain vacant until the April election and that filling the post for three months would give Muse an unfair advantage over other candidates. Mayor Fidel A. Vargas was absent for the vote.

Muse took out nomination papers Dec. 21 declaring an interest in running for election to a council seat, Gair said. On the April ballot, the mayor’s seat, a two-year term, will be open along with two four-year council seats, the ones filled by Muse and McNeill. So far, five people have declared an interest in running for mayor and 10 people have declared an interest in the two council seats, Gair said.