Following the Cypress City Council’s decision to opt for an application process and overlook the top unelected vote getter in the 2020 election to fill its vacant seat, eight residents have applied as “candidates” seeking the approval of the four remaining members to be appointed.
The deadline for residents interested in seeking the seat ended Friday, July 30. According to the city’s website, eight people have applied, including Carrie Hayashida, Steve Blount, Soledad St. Hilaire, Christine C. Stellino, Scott Minkus, Rachel Strong, Malini Nagpal and Brittney Cook.
The council voted unanimously to move forward with an application period despite the appeals or many city residents, including at least one former candidate in the 2020 election, to select former candidate Hayashida to fill the seat vacated by the sudden resignation of Mayor Pro-Tem Stacy Berry, given Hayashida’s strong showing in the 2020 contest where two seats were filled.
Mayor Pro-Tem Paulo Morales suggested that the voter approval of Measure P in the 2020 election, which gives the council 60 days (instead of 30) to fill a vacant seat, should be interpreted that voters were providing for time for such instances like Berry’s resignation to create a process to fill vacant seats.
Although she was not elected, Hayashida finished more than 2,000 votes ahead of the remaining candidates in the 2020 election for council.
Nevertheless, the council voted unanimously to instead go through a process of “application” where the remaining four council members will select a “winner” using a subjective method of selection, which the Council has every legal right to do.
“This means the vote to fill the open Cypress City Council seat will be 6,066 votes for Carrie Hayashida to 4 votes for whoever the city council selects,” said Republican activist Robin Itzler in a letter to the editor.
She was referring to Hayashida’s vote of 6,070 vote total in the 2020 election.
According to the selection process hence created by the staff, the council is expected to schedule interviews with each of the qualifying candidates of 45 minutes each. The city’s website indicates the candidate interviews will take place August 9-13.
“Applicants are encouraged to keep this time free to ensure your availability. Applicants are required to appear in person for an interview and interviews will be a maximum of 45 minutes,” according to the site.
From there, the Council will apparently discuss the candidates among themselves and select their choice for the seat on a date not yet determined.
The Council is expected, however, to name a replacement before the 60-day deadline prescribed by Measure P, after which they would be compelled to call a special election to fill the seat.
Only Hayashida and Strong were candidates in 2020. One 2020 candidate, Blaze Bhenze, who did not apply for the open seat, appeared before the council to strongly suggest they appoint Hayashida before the Council decided to move forward with the application process.
