Council to Discuss Filling Wilson’s Seat

How to fill the empty seat created by former Councilman Thomas W. Wilson’s appointment to the County Board of Supervisors will be discussed by the City Council tonight.

His successor will inherit nearly a full, four-year term because Wilson won reelection last month and was named to the county job only a day after being sworn in Dec. 3 as a Laguna Niguel official.

“It’s rare to fill a vacancy that’s nearly the entire length of a full term,” City Manager Tim Casey said.

State law requires the city to take action to replace Wilson within 30 days. The council will be deciding whether to appoint somebody to the seat or to hold a special election.

“The most significant factor [for appointing a new member] is we just came through an election where 10 candidates vied for office and there was an obvious order of finish,” Casey said.

“The council will have to ask itself if it makes sense to automatically elevate the next high vote-getter.”

Wilson, along with council members Mark Goodman and Linda Lindholm, was elected in November. Mimi Krogius Walters finished fourth in the balloting.

If the council decides to let the voters choose Wilson’s successor, a special election would take place June 3. Wilson’s former seat would remain empty during the interim period before that election.

The cost of a special election would run about $60,000.