With two vacancies, stage has been set for a power grab that would disenfranchise one-fifth of city residents.
A labor-backed majority of the San Jose City Council has set the stage for a power grab that would cut one-fifth of the city’s voters out of the process for picking their own council representatives.
What makes this year unusual — and the council decision on the replacement process even more consequential — is that for the first time since 2006 there are two vacancies coming up at the same time. That’s because of the election of District 10 Councilman Matt Mahan to be the city’s new mayor and District 8 Councilwoman Sylvia Arenas to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.
The city charter gives the council the option to choose either path. At a special council meeting called for 5 p.m. Monday, we will find out whether the council will do the honorable thing or run roughshod over the voters’ will. Make no mistake, with a current 6-5 majority on the council, the progressive labor faction has the votes to do the latter.
They also cite the cost of the special election and a possible runoff. The debate over cost was exacerbated by a memo issued Nov. 21 by City Clerk Toni Taber putting the price tag, if there were runoffs in both elections, at $7.6 million to $11.4 million.
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