Lake Elsinore council votes to fill vacancy by appointment, names subcommittee to review applicants

The Lake Elsinore City Council voted Wednesday to fill the vacancy created when Councilmember Natasha Johnson resigned after her election to the State Assembly, choosing an appointment process over a special election and forming a subcommittee to review applicants.

City Clerk Candace Alvarez told the council that “under state law and council policy, you must either fill the vacancy by appointment or call a special election within 60 days.” Alvarez said an appointment application period would run from Sept. 24 to Oct. 7, with the earliest potential appointment returning to council on Oct. 14. If the council appoints a person, Alvarez said that appointee would serve only until a successor is elected; a special election on June 2, 2026, was presented as an alternative at an estimated cost of $32,000.

The council’s decision matters because the chosen process determines who represents District 4 in the short term and how quickly that district regains a seated councilmember. Councilmember Frank Manos made the motion to fill the vacancy by appointment and to create a subcommittee to field and interview applicants; the motion carried 3-1.

Councilmember Michael Sheridan argued for a direct election, saying, “In a democracy, people, citizens, voters should decide. We as a body, in my view, cannot substitute our judgment for the judgment of the people.” Sheridan said an appointed incumbent would receive an incumbency advantage and described his support for holding an election despite the cost. Mayor Pro Tem McGee and other councilmembers said they prefer an expedited appointment to restore District 4 representation quickly and avoid the unbudgeted election expense.

Following the appointment vote, the council debated who should serve on the appointment subcommittee. Councilmember Manos recommended that the mayor and the mayor pro tem serve on the committee; that motion passed 4-0. Councilmembers said the subcommittee will review applications submitted between Sept. 24 and Oct. 7, schedule interviews and return one or more recommended candidates to the full council on the Oct. 14 meeting agenda.

Clerk Alvarez’s staff report described the timetable: application period Sept. 24–Oct. 7, review and possible interviews by an appointment committee, and a potential council appointment on Oct. 14. Alvarez also noted that an appointed successor would serve only until voters select a successor to complete the remainder of the term through November 2028.

The council also reviewed other routine business on the agenda. A motion to approve the city consent calendar (items 2–12) passed earlier in the evening, and the successor agency consent calendar (six items) passed 4-0.

Votes at a glance: - Consent calendar (items 2–12): approved 4-0. - Final tract map 38378 (191 homes on Mission Trail between Victoria and Lemon Street): approved 3-1 after separate consideration (item pulled by Mayor Pro Tem McGee). - Successor agency consent calendar (6 items): approved 4-0. - Direction on filling council vacancy: motion to fill by appointment (application period Sept. 24–Oct. 7; earliest appointment Oct. 14) — passed 3-1. - Appointment subcommittee (mayor and mayor pro tem): approved 4-0.

The council did not take closed-session reportable action earlier in the meeting; the city attorney reported that four closed-session items were discussed and that there was no reportable action.

The council directed the clerk to publish the application materials and noted the timeline; the mayor and mayor pro tem will publicly announce the subcommittee interview dates and work with the clerk’s office to schedule candidate interviews.