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Huntington Beach Public Financing Authority directs Registrar to run June 10 special election; motion passes 4-0
Summary
At a special meeting, the Huntington Beach City Council Public Financing Authority adopted a resolution directing the Orange County Registrar of Voters to handle a June 10, 2025 special election, prompting public comment critical of the cost and urging the council to adopt petition language instead.
The Huntington Beach City Council Public Financing Authority voted 4-0 to adopt a resolution providing additional direction to the Orange County Registrar of Voters for handling a special election on June 10, 2025, the body said at a special meeting in the Civic Center Council Chambers.
The action matters because public speakers argued the city could avoid the expense by adopting petition language or placing amendments on the November ballot; speakers described the special election as an unnecessary cost as the council seeks budget savings.
During public comment, Sean, a longtime resident, criticized the decision to call a separate special election. “We’re about to spend a million dollars in a needless special election because you guys won’t admit defeat,” he said, and suggested waiting until November to save money. Chris Rainey, a native resident, questioned language in a previously posted resolution and said Section 1 “gives a list of five things, basically looking as though Huntington Beach was gonna run its own election.” Pat Goodman urged the council to adopt petitioner-drafted language and said that doing so would “reset the library operations to prior to June of 2023.”
After the public comment period, a council member moved to adopt resolution number 2025-27 (staff title given at the meeting), providing additional direction to the Orange County Registrar of Voters for handling the June 10 special election; the motion was seconded. The city clerk called the roll; Mayor Pro Tem McKeon, Mayor Burns, Councilwoman Vandermark and Councilman Williams voted yes. The motion passed 4-0 with three members absent. Councilmen Twining and Kennedy had requested permission to be absent under Resolution 2001-54.
City staff did not provide additional detail in the meeting record about the precise instructions included in the resolution or estimated official costs; speakers cited differing cost figures during public comment. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn and an announcement that the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council Public Financing Authority is Tuesday, March 18, at the Civic Center Council Chambers, 2000 Main Street.
Votes at a glance: Adopt resolution number 2025-27 (provide additional direction to the Orange County Registrar of Voters for handling a special election on June 10, 2025) — Passed, 4-0 (Mayor Pro Tem McKeon — yes; Mayor Burns — yes; Councilwoman Vandermark — yes; Councilman Williams — yes; three absent).
