ARVIN, Calif. (KERO) — After months of debate, Arvin City Council has settled on an all-mail ballot special election scheduled for August 26.
- Arvin City Council unanimously voted for a special election to fill a vacancy.
- Debate over the election method included concerns about potential fraud.
- An all-mail ballot election is scheduled for August 26.
- A proposed in-person election on November 4 was rejected.
- The council had previously voted on election methods, leading to this decision.
For your convenience, the skimmable summary above is generated with the assistance of AI and fact checked by our team prior to publication. Read the full story as originally reported below.
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:
It was behind these doors that the City of Arvin decided on how they'll go about filling the vacancy on the council. After much debate, the council voted to hold a special election.
"Guys open your eyes. For crying out loud. Quit being wise in your own eyes. It's not about you. It's about everybody here," said Arvin Resident Rene Garcia.
Garcia was just one of the many Arvin residents lining up to express their frustrations with some members of the council for not wanting to hold a special election at the next available date.
"All eyes are on you guys—all eyes, so depending on how that vote goes, you'll see if you'll be there again by the time your seat's up, and that is no threat, that's a promise," said Garcia.
The Arvin city council consists of 5 members, but one member resigned last year, and that vacancy has not been filled.
That was highlighted by a recent Grand Jury Report, stating the city "failed in its duty to appoint a replacement for the council vacant, or to call for a special election."
News that made some residents urge the city council to hold a special election as soon as possible to fill the vacancy.
"The council people need to get it to their heads that whatever the staff recommends, that's what should be done," said another Arvin Resident, Robert Rodriguez.
Some residents also noted that without a complete council, important decisions can not bee made because issues can't pass on a 2-2 vote, as did the motion to have an all-mail ballot during the last council meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Susana Reyes and Councilman Donny Horton originally voted against having an all-mail ballot special election.
"Make the will of the people happen," said Garcia. "Believe it or not, because this is going to be a referendum. If you guys think you're going to go for re-election, we'll see how good it goes."
However, after hearing the residents' concerns, both Reyes and Horton changed their minds, leading to a unanimous vote to hold a special election by mail in August.
"With today's conversation, we were able to come to a resolution to now allow a special election to be considered, now allowing a better sustainable decision-making for further council meetings to attend," said Jose Galindo, a Lamont and Arvin resident.
After the special election on August 26th, it would take 30 days for the new council member to be sworn into office.
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