San Diego Will Appoint City Councilmember Today

The City Council is scheduled today to appoint one of 20 candidates to fill a vacancy in council District 2, which was represented by Kevin Faulconer until he was sworn in as mayor last month.

The list of contenders had been 19 until Friday, when attorney Bryan Pease won a court judgement that forced the City Clerk's office to accept his application.

The city contended that Pease failed to register to vote at his Ocean Beach residence -- where he has lived for about one year -- until two days after the deadline imposed by the city's Municipal Code.

The lawyer, best known for his involvement in the long-running Children's Pool controversy in La Jolla, argued that he lived in the district previously for about three years and was registered to vote during that time. The city requirement is that a candidate be registered to vote for 30 days before the deadline, but not necessarily immediately before the deadline.

U.S. District Judge William Hayes ruled in Pease's favor. The City Clerk's office announced later Friday that he had qualified.

The candidates will each get three minutes at this afternoon's council meeting to state why they should be appointed. Whoever receives a majority of votes will take the office immediately.

The vacancy is being filled by appointment since Faulconer's term was due to expire this year. A primary election is set for June 3.

The City Council asked for candidates who are only interested in serving for the roughly seven months remaining in the term, and not running for election this year.

Other candidates are former CBS8 Executive Producer Stephanie Antin; retired Judge Robert Coates; advocate for the disabled Mary Elaine Cooluris; preservationist group leader Bruce Coons; Karl Strauss Brewing Co. co-founder Christopher Cramer; City Council staffer Ricardo Flores; and retired San Diego State University education professor Jane Gawronski.

Also pursuing the office are lifeguard union chief Ed Harris; accounts receivable clerk Daniel Holstein; lawyer Cary Lowe; California National Guard pilot James Mark McBride; ex-City Council staffer Don Mullen; sales account manager James Musgrove; and LeSar Development Communications Director Gretchen Kinney Newsom.

Attorney Wayne Raffesberger; retiree and frequent City Council public speaker Richard Jarvis Ross; state Deputy Attorney General Michael Howard Wayne; retired lawyer John Wertz; and architect Matthew Winter are also seeking the position.