San Clemente will discuss how to fill Council vacancy

The San Clemente City Council tonight will discuss options to fill the vacancy created due to the death of Mayor Steve Swartz on May 8.

Councilwoman Laura Ferguson says there are several options the Council may take leading to a Special Municipal Election on November 5.

She says the Council will decide whether it wants to appoint someone to fill the vacancy until the special election is held.

And the Council may agree to hold an all-mail ballot election to save the city over a hundred thousand dollars, as the cost for a “stand-alone” Special Municipal Election would be nearly 300-thousand dollars.

Swartz was elected to a four year term on November 8, 2016. His passing creates a vacancy for the remaining 18 months of his term.

Tonight’s City Council meeting begins at six.