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Mayor Howard said the Charter clearly states that the Council shall appoint a person to fill a vacancy on the Council, and only if unable to do that, hold an election. She said that one local newspaper had been lobbying for a special election, the same newspaper that had chastised the Board of Supervisors for holding a special election to fill the vacancy created by Assemblyman Lempert's resignation. She said, "They called it a waste of taxpayer money." She said elections cost $30,000 and to have one in June and then by law have to have another in November would be a tremendous burden to the candidates as well as the City. Mayor Howard said the Council could appoint a former Council Member "who had distinguished himself on the Council in years past and certainly would provide a sense of history, as Council Member Claire does all the time.... I prefer that we look to a recent election." She said it seemed clear by the results of an election held only three months ago, "the people in Redwood City, those of whom chose to vote, and I know how many registered voters we have in Redwood City, but those who took the time to vote, I think we need to respect them and listen to what they had to say. Had Judy Buchan resigned before the election, Ian Bain would have been elected to serve in that seat. I see no reason to go against the will of the people. I have worked with Ian Bain on the Chamber of Commerce and the Housing and Human Concerns Committee.... We agree on many things and disagree on others. One of the things I admire about Ian Bain is that he will sit down, he will listen and he will talk to you and see different aspects of a problem in order to come to the best solution for the people of Redwood City. That is a quality I think a Council Member should have." Mayor Howard said Ian Bain would be "an excellent selection to serve on the City Council." She referred to Mr. Anderlini's statement that appointing a person from Redwood Shores would "right a long standing wrong" and said, "I don't agree with that statement at all.... I think that the City Council has tried on many occasions, most recently with the Council workshop (on January 31,1998) advertising in every form of communication we could get our hands on, and having it at Harris Farinon (in Redwood Shores) with lunch and refreshments offered to everyone who came in, ITom 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. we were there. I have to say it was a sparse showing from Redwood Shores. That's OK. That may mean that people in Redwood Shores many of them had something important to do, but felt they were in good hands letting us discuss (priorities) that day.... We also agreed at that meeting that we were going to have Council Meetings in Redwood Shores. The first one we are going to have is when the new Community Center opens. It will be a grand opportunity to celebrate the Center as well as having a meeting in Redwood Shores." Mayor Howard said she has never been a proponent of district elections, and believed Council Members should represent the entire community, not just a select group. Mayor Howard said there are at least 15 Neighborhoods, and only seven Council Members, and each should represent all of Redwood City. She said she supported the appointment of Ian Bain, recognizing how difficult it will be for all candidates to have to run for election in three successive Novembers. At 11:00 p.m. MIS: CLAIREIHARTNETT TO EXTEND THE MEETING TO 11:30 P.M. In response to Council Member Leipzig's procedural questions, Council Member Claire advised that the Charter empowers the Mayor to establish procedural rules. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 FEBRUARY 9,1998 MINUTES Page No. 264 PAGE 22