The Laguna Niguel City Council voted unanimously on April 18 to appoint a new councilor to the seat vacated by Mayor Pro Tem Rischi Paul Sharma earlier this month.
Sharma resigned without explanation on April 6.
The council’s vote comes after city officials indicated a special election for the seat this November would cost $100,000.
“If we were to go to a special election, we would be without a fifth council member for seven months, it would cost $100,000, and I think we are better suited to do an application process,” Councilman Ray Gennawey said during the meeting.
The council is now taking applications for the seat through April 28. Those selected will be interviewed by the council during a May 10 special council meeting, according to city officials, and will be sworn in on May 16.
The application process would likely be met with a “pool of highly qualified candidates,” Gennawey said.
The appointee is eligible to finish out the remainder of Sharma’s term, which is over at the end of next year, and also run for an additional two-year term, according to city officials.
The city’s mayor also stepped down in February but has stayed on as a councilor.
That change came after a February council meeting included a controversial item agendized for discussion by then-Mayor Sandy Rains, calling for the possible dismissal of the city manager, which prompted two of her fellow councilors to call for her resignation.
Sharma temporarily filled in as mayor in replacement of Rains, and last month the city council appointed councilwoman Kelly Jennings as the new mayor.
