Mayor Appointed Over Objections

In a surprise move that came over the objections of two colleagues, longtime City Councilman Alfonso C. Urias was appointed Santa Paula’s mayor.

The council, with two new members meeting for the first time, selected Urias on Monday night in a 3-2 vote, disappointing Mayor Pro Tem Robin Sullivan. Sullivan said tradition backed her for mayor.

Eight of the city’s last 12 mayors served as mayor pro tem immediately before their appointments. The city’s mayor serves a one-year term.

But this year, former Mayor John A. F. Melton bid for the seat. When controversy arose, he nominated his ally, Urias, instead.

“All of the sudden he said, ‘Why don’t you be mayor?’ ” Urias said, recalling a conversation over the weekend. In turn, Urias nominated Melton as mayor pro tem.

Urias unsuccessfully nominated Melton last year before Councilman Wayne D. Johnson was appointed in a 3-2 vote. Johnson had served as mayor pro tem the previous year.

Johnson lost his bid for reelection in November.

Urias, 70, was first elected to the council in 1974. He has served all but two years since then. Melton, 64, reelected in November to his sixth consecutive four-year term, served as mayor in 1986-87 and 1991. He’s a retired Southern California Edison manager.

City Administrator Arnold Dowdy administered the oath of office to Melton, Espinosa and newspaper publisher Don Johnson shortly before the mayor was selected.