Eight applicants will state their case to fill an empty seat on the Pacific Grove City Council.

Pam Marino here, contemplating how the democratic process works when an elected leader steps down and needs to be replaced. How best to pick a new representative of the people in a fair and just way? Appoint someone? Hold a special election?

Pacific Grove is facing that situation after Debby Beck resigned from the P.G. City Council back in November, two years into her term.

The city’s charter allows for the mayor to choose a new councilmember, but newly elected Mayor Nick Smith wisely declined, instead saying that he wanted a majority of the council to choose from a field of applicants.

Eight Pagrovians applied for the position by the deadline on Jan. 3. Tomorrow night, Wednesday, Jan. 15, the council will hear a pitch from each, be able to ask questions, and then vote on who they think should fulfill the rest of the term, ending in December 2026. 

The applicants include some with previous city experience, including two current members of the Planning Commission (Ross Davison and Donald Murphy), a former councilmember (Cynthia Garfield), the chair of the P.G. Architectural Review Board (Anna Bornstein) and a member of the Economic Development Commission (Michael Gibbs).

The remaining three citizens who applied include a man with an extensive background in the federal government (Melvin Dubee), an entrepreneur with a law degree (Jennifer Kelly) and a software engineer and community volunteer deeply concerned about climate change (Eugene Loh).

You can read their applications for yourself by accessing the agenda here.

Which way the council will land is yet to be seen. Will councilmembers go with the applicants with city leadership experience? That might give an edge to Davison, Murphy, Garfield and Bornstein.

I’m doubtful Gibbs will get the nod. He has a history of fomenting divisiveness within the city. In his 2022 application to join the EDC he said he had no interest in running for office and wanted to work collaboratively with others. Instead, he’s been a thorn in the side of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force, in part leading to former mayor Bill Peake unsuccessfully seeking to remove him from the commission. 

The council could go in a different direction and pick someone less well known. Voters signaled in the Nov. 5 election that they were ready for change. They rejected what could be considered the “old guard,” electing Smith over former councilmember Dan Miller for mayor. The previously unknown Paul Walkingstick came in first place in the council race. Voters elected Tina Rau (and reelected Chaps Poduri) and rejected incumbent Luke Coletti.

You can participate in the process and weigh in on who you think should represent residents by attending in person at City Hall, 300 Forest Ave., or hopping on the Zoom link. Or just watch the meeting on YouTube. 

As my colleague Squid would say, break out the shrimp-flavored popcorn. It should be an interesting watch.