Gang violence in Oceanside’s Eastside neighborhood that was beaten back years ago by feisty residents determined to take back their streets has returned in recent months, threatening progress th
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Facing the possibility of a six-hour or longer meeting to interview a record number of applicants, the Oceanside City Council decided last week to change a policy it adopted a year ago to bring “transparency” to the political appointment process.
Thirty-six people initially applied to be appointed to the two years remaining in the District 1 council seat left vacant by the election of Mayor Esther Sanchez. One person has since withdrawn. The interviews and a possible selection are set for Jan. 27.
Instead of all 35 applicants, the council voted 3-1 last week to interview only the top five picks of each council member. Their choices will be announced to the city clerk at the Jan. 27 meeting, which would mean a maximum of 20 interviews and probably fewer if some choices overlap. Also, they will shorten each interview to five minutes instead of 10.
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A record 36 people have applied to be appointed to the Oceanside City Council seat left vacant when former Councilwoman Esther Sanchez was elected mayor Nov. 3.
The City Council has until Feb. 10 to appoint somebody or it must designate a special citywide election, though an election appears unlikely. The earliest the vacancy could go on a ballot is November, at an estimated cost of $250,000 to taxpayers, and the winner would have less than a year in office.
Seldom does an open council seat attract so many applicants, though until recently the process was less formal. About a year ago, the council adopted a policy for how vacancies in elected positions are advertised, the requirements for applications, the procedures and time limits for interviews, and more.