South San Francisco sets date for council interviews

Interviews will be held next week to possibly fill a vacancy on the South San Francisco City Council but it is still undetermined if there will be an appointment, and for how long.

Nine people have applied thus far to fill the seat left vacant when Kevin Mullin was elected to the Assembly. Mullin still has nearly three years in his term. The council decided to accept applications but has yet to finalize if it will appoint and, if so, for how long. But last night, the council did decide to interview candidates Wednesday, Dec. 19 and Saturday, Dec. 22 at City Hall. The earliest the council could make a decision about appointing a replacement or calling an election will be during the Saturday, Dec. 22 meeting.

Despite the lack of clear direction, applications have been submitted from Rhonda Ceccato, San Mateo County Board of Education trustee; Parks and Recreation Commissioner Mark Nagales; South San Francisco planning commissioners Pradeep Gupta, John Prouty, Rick Ochsenhirt and Carlos Martin; John Poletti; Nakshin Shah and Arnel Junio, according to the City Clerk’s Office. If the council decides to appoint, candidates have until 5 p.m. today to apply.

There are a few options before the council: Appoint someone to fill the remainder of the term, through 2015; appoint someone until the next regular election in 2013; or hold a special election. If the council decides to appoint, special meetings for interviews and an appointment will be scheduled.

South City isn’t often faced with a vacancy on the council. Councilman Rich Garbarino first joined the council through an appointment in 2002 after Gene Mullin, then mayor, was elected to the Assembly. Garbarino was the most recent appointment to the City Council.

Also on Wednesday, the council appointed Deputy City Treasurer Frank Risso as the new city treasurer. Richard Battaglia, who had served as the city treasurer since November 2003, died Nov. 25. Risso will serve the rest of Battaglia’s term through November 2013.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by email: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.