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Cypress Council to Fill At‑Large Vacancy by Appointment, Sets Rapid Application and Interview Timeline
Summary
After weighing the cost and delay of a special election, the Cypress City Council voted unanimously to appoint an eligible resident to the at‑large seat left vacant by Scott Menikus and approved a schedule for applications and public interviews in November.
The Cypress City Council voted unanimously to fill an at‑large council vacancy by appointment rather than call a costly special election.
Mayor Burke moved to appoint an eligible resident to the seat left open by Scott Menikus’s resignation; the motion carried unanimously after council members said the estimated cost (roughly $866,000–$900,000) and timing of a special election would make that option impractical. “I think an appointment makes more sense in this situation,” Mayor Burke said during debate.
Staff told the council the alternative—holding a special election—would not be held until April 14, 2026, and could leave the seat vacant for months. The city attorney and staff outlined the legal requirement that the council either appoint someone or call a special election within 60 days of the vacancy and reviewed eligibility rules from the city charter.
The council approved application materials based on the packet used in 2021, limiting submissions to five pages. Councilmembers agreed on a public interview format that will allow candidates a brief opening statement, a question period from council, and a short closing remark. Council member Pete moved that interviews be scheduled with 20‑minute interview slots every 30 minutes; the motion was seconded and advanced during the scheduling discussion.
To accommodate schedules and Brown Act requirements the council adopted a timeline calling for a publicized application window beginning mid‑October, distribution of candidate packets to council digitally for review the week of Nov. 3–7, selection of finalists at the council’s Nov. 10 meeting, and public interviews on Nov. 19. Mayor Burke instructed staff to proceed with outreach and publicity for the opportunity, including FAQs and a social‑media campaign.
Members said they preferred the appointment because it would be faster and far less expensive than a special election, though several said an election would be preferable in principle if timing and cost were not a concern. Paul Kokinos, a virtual speaker during oral communications, urged the council to “put everything else aside and choose a candidate that’s best for the city” and said he supported Option 2, the appointment.
The appointment process will conclude with an appointment by Nov. 30 or the council will otherwise be required under law to proceed as directed by statutes and charter rules. Staff said they will accept applications online and via paper and will make candidate materials available to council members electronically for review.
