Piedmont Election Certification, Election of a New Mayor, Mon. Dec. 7, 5 PM
– The Results of the City Election will be Certified by the City Council on Monday, Dec. 7, at 5:00 p.m. –
Elected to the Piedmont City Council:
Jennifer Cavenaugh to begin a second 4 year term.
Conna McCarthy to begin a first 4 year term.
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Elected to the Piedmont Unified School District Board of Trustees:
Cory Smegal to begin a second 4 year term..
Veronica Anderson-Thigpen to begin a first 4 year term,
Hilary Cooper to begin a first 4 year term.
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Measure UU – Pool Bonds were voter approved by 68 %.
Measure TT – Real Property Transfer Tax was defeated by voters – 52% No to 48% Yes.
Click below for detailed official results and stats –
Certification of Election Results for the General Municipal Election of November 3, 2020_
The Piedmont City Charter states:
“(D) ELECTION. The regular election of Councilmembers shall be held at the General Municipal Election as provided for in Section 8.01 of this Charter. The terms of elected Councilmembers shall begin upon certification of the election results by the City Council. They shall hold office for four (4) years. Elections shall be alternately for two (2) and three (3) Councilmembers, excluding elections to fill an unexpired term of office. (Charter Amendment 11/4/2014)” Piedmont City Charter
Gratitude for outgoing Mayor Bob McBain will be acknowledged. McBain has served on the City Council for 8 plus years.
Next Mayor and Vice-Mayor of Piedmont:
“SECTION 2.08 MAYOR Following each general municipal election, the City Council shall elect from among its member officers of the City who shall have the titles of Mayor and Vice-Mayor, each of whom shall serve at the pleasure of the Council. The Mayor shall preside at meetings of the Council, shall be recognized as head of the City government for all ceremonial purposes and by the Governor for the purposes of military law, but shall have no administrative duties. The Vice-Mayor shall act as mayor during the absence or disability of the Mayor. In case of the temporary absence or disability of both the Mayor and Vice-Mayor, the Council shall select one of its members to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore.”
Council members are listed below in order of seniority on the council and votes garnered in their elections:
Teddy Gray King – 6 years on the Council – term ends 2022
Tim Rood – 6 years on the Council – term ends 2022
Jennifer Cavenaugh – 4 years on the Council – term ends 2024
Betsy Smegal Andersen – approximately 3 years on the Council – term ends 2022
Conna McCarthy – newly elected to the Council – term ends 2024
Piedmont Mayors and Vice-Mayors are chosen by 3 or more Council members. The Mayor and Vice-Mayor serve at the pleasure of the City Council.
SCHOOL BOARD
School Board: The December meeting of the Piedmont Unified School District Board of Education has been changed to Tuesday, December 15th in order to swear-in newly elected school board members in compliance with Assembly Bill (AB) 2449. AB 2449 (2018) changed the seating date for newly elected school district and county board of education members to the second Friday in December following their election. Regular Open Session will begin at 7:00 PM.
Retiring School Board members Sarah Pearson and Andrea Swenson will have each completed 8 plus years of service on the Board.
That list of council seniority suggests a simple mechanism for selecting mayor – just base it on seniority. When there is a term when two council members have equal seniority (as there is now) then have 1 year appointments as mayor. It’s a ceremonial position. That way over the course of 8 years, every council member gets to serve as mayor. This is a no-brainer. Will someone on council propose this Monday evening please? It really removes all gamesmanship from the process.