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Published July 15th, 2015
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Council to Interview Candidates for Glazer Vacancy at Public Meeting
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| By Victor Ryerson |
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Orinda residents can put in their two cents' worth on the selection of the next Orinda City Council member at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 15 in the Orinda Library Auditorium. The current council members will interview the candidates for the position vacated by then-mayor Steve Glazer, who submitted his resignation on May 28 when he was sworn in as state senator following his victory in a runoff election. The council opted to appoint a candidate to fill the vacancy rather than call a special election, which would have cost the city roughly $38,000 to $63,000.
Eight candidates have submitted applications and required financial responsibility forms by the July 6 deadline. Each will make a five-minute statement to the current council, followed by a question-and-answer session by the council members. Members of the public will be allowed to attend and observe, and after all eight candidates have been vetted by the council, public comments will be taken. Under the council's regular practice, each member of the public will generally be allotted three minutes to speak. The council will then deliberate and select the new council member, who will tentatively be sworn in on July 21. The winning candidate will fill the midterm vacancy until it expires at the end of December 2016.
The candidates who submitted applications for the vacancy are:
Owen Murphy, a retired businessman who has served twice on the city's Finance Advisory Committee;
Bob Thompson, an investment manager who has also served on the Finance and Advisory Committee;
Juan Nelson Kelly, an actuary, who serves as Orinda's liaison to the Contra Costa County Library Commission;
Darlene Gee, a civil engineer, who currently chairs Orinda's Citizens' Infrastructure Oversight Commission;
Carlos Baltodano, a building safety consultant, who has served on the Orinda Planning Commission and other city organizations;
Linda Delehunt, an educational consultant;
Rachel Zenner, director of government relations for Safeway Inc., who has served on Orinda's Parks and Recreation Commission; and
Cara Hoxie, a former corporate attorney and current stay-at-home mom who has been active as a community volunteer with the Educational Foundation of Orinda, among other organizations.
Applicants were asked a variety of questions, including "Why are you interested in serving on the Orinda City Council?" And "What do you hope to accomplish while holding this position?" Responses to questions, as well as detailed background information about each applicant, are available online at https://cityoforinda.app.box.com/s/zhcvw4r4sabyb0rzfbu044ksbxmi72am/1/3982570879/33045359533/1.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA