Why is it so hard?
With the city of Davis facing a $1.2 million deficit, why can’t Davis City Council member Don Saylor step down early for the good of the city, specifically to save money and to give voters a chance to elect their city leaders?
Saylor is running unopposed for the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. When he assumes that seat in January, his seat on the Davis City council will be open. Yolo County’s election officials say it will cost the city as much as $300,000 to hold a stand-alone special election to replace him.
That’s money Davis can’t afford to waste.
There’s a much cheaper alternative. If Saylor resigns in July, as the Davis Enterprise has urged him to do, his fellow council members can appoint a replacement to serve in his seat until the November general election, when his successor would be elected. The Enterprise and others have suggested that Davis council members appoint Saylor himself to the seat, a good idea, one that would clearly comport with the wishes of Davis voters who have twice elected Saylor to the council.
Rather than pursue that sensible and cost-effective option, Saylor says he’s determined to remain in his council seat until he is sworn in as a Yolo supervisor in January. He points to important unfinished business – the city’s financial struggles, its wastewater treatment program and an effort to improve civility among council members – that he wants to be a part of.
If Saylor stands by his pledge to hold unto his City Council seat until January, the council does not have to call a stand-alone special election. It could appoint a replacement to serve out the balance of Saylor’s term, until 2012. But that denies voters a chance to choose their city leaders.
Two goals ought to guide Davis officials as they consider this issue – saving money in these tough economic times and giving voters an opportunity to elect their leaders. By resigning in July and having fellow council members appoint his replacement – preferably Saylor himself – Saylor and the Davis City Council could achieve both goals.