ANAHEIM : Council Voting Delay Called Political Game

Councilman Fred Hunter accused his colleagues of playing political games after they postponed a decision last week on how to fill City Council vacancies.

Hunter’s remarks came last Tuesday, before Councilmen Frank Feldhaus and Irv Pickler and Mayor Tom Daly voted to delay consideration of a proposed amendment to the City Charter. The amendment will be placed on the November ballot for consideration by voters if it receives council approval by August.

The complex proposal would automatically give the losing council candidate with the highest number of votes in a general election the right to fill a council vacancy in the event an incumbent council member is elected mayor.

City law now calls for an appointment by the council or a special election to select a new council member in the event of such a vacancy. But even if the measure is passed by the council and approved by voters this fall, it would not take effect until 1996, according to city officials.

Hunter, nevertheless, was frustrated by the council’s inaction last week. Hunter favors the charter proposal over costly special elections or letting the council appoint new members.

“I think we ought to get on with this instead of playing these stupid political games,” Hunter said.

But Pickler said he needed more time to study the proposals before he could vote.

“It’s (only) about two paragraphs,” shot back Hunter.

After the meeting, Pickler said he was still undecided about the proposal. “This may be the way to go,” said Pickler. “I’m not saying it’s not. I just don’t want to rush into something.”

The council is expected to revisit the proposal in two weeks.