P.G. City Council will vet nine candidates to fill open seat through November.

The job pays very little and will only last six months, but it’s a job nine people say they want: filling a vacant seat on the Pacific Grove City Council. On Wednesday, June 3, the Council will decide which hopeful will join them on the dais.

The seat became empty after former councilmember Paul Walkingstick resigned on April 1 due to a family situation. The application period opened on May 7 and closed on May 22.

Although Walkingstick was elected to a four-year term in 2024, last year the Council approved moving to a district voting system, with Walkingstick’s district, District 1, coming up for election on Nov. 3, along with districts 3 and 5. That means whoever is chosen on June 3 will only hold the seat until after the election, unless of course they run and win.

Each candidate will get a chance to state their case to the Council and the public will have the opportunity to make comments before councilmembers cast votes for who will be sworn in that evening.

The nine candidates are:

Ben Bence - A local teacher who previously worked as an educator for the Monterey Bay Aquarium as well as running his own educational consulting firm. Bence currently sits on the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Board of Directors and lists more than 1,700 hours of volunteer work for the Aquarium.

Chalet Booker - A senior administrative officer with the Community Foundation for Monterey County and a former cultural arts assistant for the City of Monterey who states she’s lived in P.G. for most of her life and wants to preserve the city’s historic fabric as well as promote local businesses.

Jessica Denecour - She described herself in her application as an “experienced board director, senior executive and chief information officer.” She currently serves on the board of PG&E, where she is chair of the Sustainability and Governance Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee as well as the Safety and Nuclear Oversight Committee and People and Compensation Committee.

Bart Hays - An exhibition designer who is a principal in one exhibits company and owns his own design and project management company based in P.G. He previously worked as senior exhibit designer for the Aquarium and volunteered as an assistant track coach for the Pacific Grove High School team. Hays says he can offer representation for small business owners, the cultural arts and renters, as a long-term renter himself.

Tara Leweling - The U.S. Air Force veteran has worked for the White House National Security Council in the past, as well as major corporations developing corporate responsibility and sustainability programs. She founded a boutique strategic advisory firm that advises boards and leaders on governance and other issues and serves on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Military Council.

Jason Little - The executive director of the Read to Me Project said his experience as the father of young children in P.G. his family has exposed them to the strengths of the city as well as “the evolving needs facing young families.” He said he would bring strong listening skills, a collaborative mindset to help the city be a place for all ages and backgrounds.

Nicholas Mourlam - He is a member of the P.G. Planning Commission and former chair of the Economic Development Commission. Professionally, Mourlam is director of development for the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health. He also teaches piano in town and formerly served as music director for St. Mary’s-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.

Kimberly Pye - The local attorney currently sits on the city’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force. Until last year she also worked as divemaster and tour guide for Bamboo Reef Dive Centers. Pye was clear in her application that she’s not interested in a permanent job. “I view this as an opportunity for public service and responsible stewardship during an interim period, not as an entitlement to a permanent position,” she said.

Chris Thomas - The retired car dealership manager from Texas said he and his wife bought their home in P.G. in 2020 after falling in love with the town and moved here permanently in 2023. He said he’ll bring a fresh perspective to the Council. He walks four miles a day with his dog through the town and wants to give back to what he considers a special place.

Prior to the regular meeting at 6pm on Wednesday, the Council will hold a special meeting at 5:30pm to finalize a policy on how the selection process will work. Agendas for both meetings can be found here.

The Council meets inside City Hall at 300 Forest Ave. To participate online use the Zoom link. The meeting can also be viewed on YouTube and AMP.