Mayor Will Quit if He Wins College Seat

Mayor George Brown said Thursday he will resign if he wins a seat on the Coast Community College District board on Nov. 3.

Brown, 74, who had called a special meeting of the City Council, said he had learned belatedly that the charter prevents city officials from running for other elective office. One solution he proposed, to hold a special municipal election on Nov. 3 to change the charter, was abandoned. Brown said that rather than have the city spend $10,000 on an election, he would resign if he wins the college board seat.

His term expires in the year 2000.

Brown said he had asked the city attorney and others if the charter prohibited his running for the second post and was told there was no conflict. Then, on Tuesday, council watchdog Gordon Shanks told him about the charter provision.

“It’s just bad form,” Shanks said. “You do not call special meetings in the middle of the summer just so one guy can run for a board.”

The mayor’s job was enough to occupy Brown’s time and could be neglected if he won a seat in the large college district, Shanks added.

City Atty. Quinn Barrow said the charter section could be interpreted broadly, and that there was no legislative history to show what the charter writers meant.

Councilman Paul Yost said: “What George just suggested is the courageous thing to do. It’s the right thing to do. It’s the better part of valor not to take action today.”

At Brown’s suggestion, the council voted to review the charter over the next few years.

“I suggest we look at the charter,” Brown said. “I do want clarification.”