BANNING COUNCIL VACANCY: Special Election Ruled Out, Botts' Replacement to be Appointed

The four Banning city council members who remain in the wake of Mayor Pro Tem Bob Botts' resignation last week agreed Tuesday Oct. 15 to appoint his replacement, ruling out a special election due to costs and time considerations.

City Manager Andy Takata told council members Edward Miller, Art Welch, Debbie Franklin and Don Peterson a special election could cost an estimated $40,000. Mayor Franklin noted a special election could not be staged until April 2014, and the elected newcomer would then be up for re-election in November 2014.

Council members agreed by consensus to have city staff take steps to amend city code to allow 60 days from Botts' resignation to appoint his replacement, to seek applicants through advertising in the local weekly newspaper on Friday Oct. 25, to review the form applicants will be asked to fill out, and to review questions they want to ask applicants during the interview process, Franklin said.

The "special meeting" of the council to address filling Botts' seat was announced Wednesday Oct. 9, one day after Botts abruptly resigned.

The only item on the meeting agenda was "Selection Method for Filling Vacant City Council Seat."

Botts' resignation came one day after a city spokesman announced Banning chief of police Leonard Purvis went on voluntary paid leave effective Saturday Oct. 5.