Glendale Considers Familiar Faces For Interim Seat

Considering the new staggering estimated cost to consolidate an election with the County in November, the Glendale City Council will have to implement another alternative in their search for an interim board member.

City officials have agreed to appoint the interim board member this upcoming council meeting after briefly interviewing five former mayors of Glendale, Frank Quintero, Eileen Givens, Sheldon Baker Rick Reyes and Bob Yousefian, ultimately choosing one of them to take the place of departed member Rafi Manoukian.

Council members discussed the issue at length and leaned towards someone who was still current with city issues, someone who would help lead the city during budgetary decisions in the coming weeks, officials said.

Whoever is chosen will hold the interim seat until the June 2014 elections, rather than until the November 2013 consolidated elections as originally intended. It was believed at one point that the November elections would provide greater cost savings for the city, but new estimates showed the cost spiraling high.

"The original numbers we had were $200-$300,000. What we were quoted from the County for holding a consolidated election in November is $692,000," said Michael Garcia, Glendale city attorney. Coupled with the need to provide translated materials, the cost could be in upwards of $800,000.

Appointing an interim council member and waiting until the June 2014 elections would cost the city a projected cost of $220,000, Garcia said.

Council members expressed some citizens' concerns that people want an elected official as opposed to an appointed leader who may run to keep their seat.

Whoever is chosen would have to  promise not to seek election, said Mayor Dave Weaver.