The City Commission on Dec. 2 appointed Gregory Velez to fill the District 5 City Commission seat vacated by former Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover.

Lede: After a public comment period and a series of nominee interviews, commissioners nominated a short list of applicants and voted by written ballot. Gregory Velez received four votes (Carey, Castillo, Lee and Mayor Enriquez) compared with one vote each for other nominees; the commission then passed a resolution confirming his appointment.

Context and reaction: Public commenters urged the commission to choose an appointee who could begin serving immediately and contribute in December’s strategic planning session. Advocates cited Velez’s prior experience as city manager and other applicants emphasized experience and community ties. Several commissioners said they interviewed all applicants and weighed immediate operational needs, budget responsibilities and the December strategic session when selecting nominees.

Process and next steps: The commission agreed to swear in the appointee at the evening session if he could attend; the city attorney noted affidavit of residency and other eligibility checks must be completed prior to seating. Velez’s term fills the unexpired portion of the District 5 seat until the next election cycle.

Provenance: The nomination and roll calls can be found in the record of Item 28; the commission confirmed Velez, then passed a resolution to appoint him later during the meeting.