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Council member resigns, applicants being sought
Cruz 10-9
Riverbank City Council Member Leanne Jones-Cruz is pictured in this file photo at the January meeting where she was chosen to serve as Vice Mayor this year. She has tendered her resignation, as she is retiring from her job and moving out of town.

Riverbank City Council Member and Vice Mayor Leanne Jones-Cruz submitted her resignation, which was effective Sept. 30, and the council held a special meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 2 to decide how to fill the vacancy.

By state statute, the city has a limited amount of time to decide which of two choices they had available to utilize.

According to Gov. Code, § 36512, when there is a vacancy on the City Council, the council must fill the vacancy by appointment or call a special election within sixty (60) days of the vacancy. Since Council Member Cruz’s resignation was effective Sept. 30, 2024, the City Council must fill the vacancy no later than Nov. 29, 2024, either by calling a special election or by appointment.

If the City Council calls a special election to fill the vacancy, the election must be held on the next established election date pursuant to Election Code section 1000, not less than one hundred fourteen (114) days after the calling of the special election.

Accordingly, the earliest date that the City Council could hold the special election is March 4, 2025. The City must bear the cost of the special election. The Councilmember elected at the special election would serve until November 2026, the remainder of Councilmember Jones Cruz’s term.

In the discussion on Oct. 2, the mayor and council members noted that to call a special election would result in District 3, Jones-Cruz’s district, not having representation for months.

The council chose instead to fill the vacancy by appointment, so the appointed council member will serve until November 2026, the remainder of Councilmember Jones Cruz’s term. The City Council opened an application process and is currently soliciting applications.

Applicants must be eligible to serve as the District Three City Council Member.

To be eligible to serve as the District Three council member, all applicants must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the district which they represent, which in this case is District Three. The city will accept applications from interested persons through Nov. 12, 2024, with appointment to the City Council to occur no later than Nov. 29, 2024.

Applications are available on the city’s website, as well as from the City Clerk’s office at City Hall, Third Street, in downtown Riverbank. For more information, call 209-869-7101.