The Santa Barbara City Council will hold a special meeting Wednesday to discuss whether to appoint District 3 Councilman Oscar Gutierrez and District 6 Councilwoman Meagan Harmon or place them on the November ballot.
Last week, City Clerk Services Manager Sarah Gorman certified that Mr. Gutierrez and Ms. Harmon were the only qualified candidates that can be elected in their respective districts.
On Wednesday, the council will decide whether to appoint the candidates in lieu of an election or to have them go through the city’s General and Special Municipal Election on Nov. 5.
City staff estimates a saving of $106,000 if council chooses to appoint. The savings include $42,000 for District 3 (Westside) and $68,000 for District 6 (downtown area). The costs are dependent on voter registration and there are more voters registered in District 6, Ms. Gorman said.
The District 3 seat is a five-year term and the District 6 seat is a two-year term, which includes the remaining two years of former Councilman Gregg Hart, who now sits on the Board of Supervisors.
There will be an election in November for the positions of District 1 (Eastside) and District 2 (the Mesa). Both of those terms will run through January 2025.
The council will not holding a regular meeting Tuesday. The Aug. 27 and Sept. 3 meetings also have been canceled.
Wednesday’s meeting is scheduled to 2 p.m. at City Hall, 735 Anacapa St.
