Council Picks Paris to Fill Rice’s Term

City Council members voted 3 to 1 Wednesday to appoint Planning Commissioner Russell Paris to serve out the remaining two years of Margie Rice’s term.

Councilman Tony Lam nominated Paris. Rice, the new mayor, and Frank Fry Jr., now a councilman, voted in favor.

Reelected Councilman Kermit Marsh sought to appoint former Councilwoman Joy L. Neugebauer.

A group of residents who circulated a letter in support of Neugebauer’s appointment voiced their concerns about how such appointments are made. Nearly 600 residents signed copies of the letter.

“I’m still numb and shocked,” resident Bill de la Garza said. “We brought all these petitions in. Then they had the gall to turn around and appoint someone who didn’t even run.”

Resident Pat Stewart said appointments like these to elected seats should be automatically given to the next-highest vote-getter of the past election.

Neugebauer came in third in the race for two full-term council seats, with 9,251 votes. The victors were Marsh, with 10,105 votes, and Fry, with 9,602. Andy Quach, who was fourth, got 7,263 votes.