RANCHO PALOS VERDES : Council Deadlocks on Appointee for Open Seat
After six ballots and an angry debate, the City Council remained deadlocked on who to appoint to a fifth council seat.
On Tuesday, the council postponed another vote until Jan. 3, the final day allowed by state law to appoint a council member to fill the seat vacated when Steven Kuykendall was elected to the state Assembly in November.
The council had hoped to save $70,000 in election costs by appointing someone to fill the term that expires in November, 1995, but it will be forced to hold an election if three council members cannot agree.
Councilwomen Susan Brooks and Marilyn Lyon voted for Kim Wang on each ballot. Councilman John C. McTaggart voted for Sonja Pedersen Hayes on each ballot. Mayor Lee Byrd voted for Hayes and other candidates, but not Wang.
Fifteen candidates applied for the position. After the deadlock, Byrd suggested that the council select five or six they all agreed on and vote again. Brooks and Lyon said they would not change their votes.
“Don’t blame me or John (McTaggart) for a lack of having a compromise,” Byrd said.
“Don’t throw it on us,” shot back Brooks. “You’re the mayor, and you’re presiding over this meeting.”
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