Riverbank council sets application window and votes to fill District 3 seat by appointment

Riverbank’s City Council LRA board voted 4–0 on Oct. 2, 2024, to fill the District 3 vacancy left by the resignation of Vice Mayor Lianne Jones Cruz by appointing a replacement and opening an application process.

City Clerk Gabby Hernandez told the council the resignation was effective Sept. 30 and that state election rules require the seat be filled within 60 days, meaning the council must act by Nov. 29. Hernandez said the earliest date a special election could be held under the election code would be March 4, 2025, and that the city would bear the cost of such an election. For those reasons, staff recommended the council solicit applications and appoint a candidate to serve the remainder of the term through November 2026.

“City staff recommends opening an application process and soliciting applications from interested persons between October 3 to November 12,” Hernandez said, outlining minimum eligibility requirements: applicants must be at least 18 years old, a registered voter and a resident of District 3.

Hernandez said staff would publish the application on the city website, promote it on social media, and make hard copies available at City Hall. She recommended a noon deadline on Nov. 12 to give staff time to vet applicants and prepare an agenda package for open interviews, which the council expects to hold before the 60‑day deadline, likely the week before Thanksgiving.

Council members asked about what questions should be required on the application. Hernandez said only the statutory eligibility items are mandatory; other fields (education, employment, background) are optional and intended to give the council context for interviews. She also cautioned that verifying a recently updated voter registration can take several days to one or two weeks if changes must be processed by the secretary of state.

In public comment, Jamie Eggers of Modesto, Calif., urged the council to hold a special election rather than appoint a replacement, saying, “given that you have more than 2 years remaining on this particular council member’s vacancy, you should be holding a special election rather than just appointing someone.”

A council member then moved to approve Item 7.1 to fill the District 3 vacancy by appointment; another council member seconded. The clerk called the roll and the motion passed 4–0.

Under the council’s adopted timeline, staff will accept applications from Oct. 3 through Nov. 12 and present qualifying applicants at an open meeting for interview and selection so an appointment can be made before Nov. 29. The appointed member would serve the remainder of the term through November 2026.

Next steps: the city will post the application Oct. 3, accept submissions through noon on Nov. 12, and notify applicants of interview dates to allow the council to appoint before the statutory 60‑day deadline.