Council cites $40,000 special-election cost in choosing appointment for District 3

Council members debated whether to appoint a replacement for the District 3 vacancy or wait for a special election, with several members noting the timeline and financial costs of an election.

One councilmember explained that a special election "wouldn't occur until January at the earliest" because of the upcoming November election, and said that would leave an elected winner with "about 10 months and about a $40,000 price tag to the city," a cost the speaker suggested could be better spent on priorities such as multimodal transportation or other strategic-plan items. Supporters of appointment argued that appointing now would give an appointee roughly a 13‑month term and avoid that expense.

Council discussion juxtaposed that fiscal argument with differing views about whether the appointment should prioritize the expressed preferences of District 3 residents. Member Russell said he had heard from District 3 constituents and favored Barbara Chumley as the district choice; other council members said prior election results and Martinez’s land‑use background aligned with the seat’s recent voter preferences. The council ultimately voted to appoint Aaron Martinez, 5–1, citing both candidate qualifications and the practical costs of a special election.