Council appoints longtime Capitola volunteer Susan Westman to vacant council seat

The Capitola City Council on June 12 appointed Susan Westman to the council seat left vacant when Vice Mayor Alex Peterson resigned in May, voting 3-1 to fill the seat for a term that expires in December 2026.

The appointment came after a public application process running May 27–June 3 that produced 15 applicants (13 qualified by the deadline, one qualified after it and one later withdrawn). Staff told the council the California Government Code requires a council confronted with a vacancy to either appoint someone or call a special election by July 7; staff also said the code requires appointees to be at least 18, registered voters and city residents. "The application period ran from May 27 to June 3," staff said during the presentation.

Why it matters: The choice replaces an elected official before the next regular election and gives the council a new voting member for issues such as regional transportation and grant decisions. The council used the same ranked-choice-style scoring method applied in January 2025 to select a successor to a prior vacancy.

Council discussion and public comment featured many residents urging the appointment of Westman. Tori Delfavro, who identified herself as a Capitola resident, called Westman "a Capitola superhero," noting her long record of volunteer and staff service to the city. Several other residents and former colleagues — including Pam Greninger and a former mayor who said she hired Westman as community development director and later appointed her city manager — spoke in support of Westman's experience and readiness to "hit the ground running." "She's been showing up in so many different capacities in this town since 1981," Delfavro said.

Westman, who identified herself as a current planning commissioner, told the council she would work to "move Capitola forward" and emphasized collaboration with staff and regional partners. "If selected, I would look forward to working with all the members of the city council," she said.

When the council proceeded to vote, Council Member Jerry Jensen voted yes, Council Member Melinda Orbach voted no, Council Member Margo Morgan voted yes, and Mayor Joe Clark voted yes. Council Member Margo Morgan made the motion on the floor: "I'll move to appoint Susan Westman to Capitola City Council." After the vote the mayor administered the oath of office and Westman took her seat.

Related reorganization: Later in the meeting the council filled the vacant vice mayor position created by Peterson's resignation. Council Member Margo Morgan was nominated and approved unanimously in a separate roll call vote to serve as vice mayor for the remainder of the calendar year.

What’s next: Westman will serve on council committees and may be assigned to regional boards previously served by the departed member; staff noted vacancies will be advertised for the planning commission seat Westman vacated. The California Government Code timeline remains in effect: the council must either appoint someone or call a special election by July 7.

Sources: Staff presentation to the Capitola City Council; public comments and roll-call vote at the June 12, 2025 council meeting.