The Seaside City Council is looking to fill two vacant seats sooner rather than later, setting the stage for an interesting situation in the November general election.
Officials hope to fill the vacancies on the City Council before July 25, hitting a deadline that would then put those seats on the November 2026 ballot so voters can make the call about who represents them going forward.
With three other seats on the council nearing the end of four-year terms and another recently appointed city councilor only set to serve through the end of the year, this means all seven seats on the City Council will be up for election in the fall.
The Ward 3 seat is vacant following the recall of Councilor Seamus McVey in March. An at-large position covering Wards 1 and 2 is vacant after the recent resignation of Councilor Heidi Hoffman.
Anyone appointed to the vacant seats would only serve through the end of 2026, but they could also choose to run in the November election. If they land the seat then, the position would be theirs for the next two years.
Mayor Steve Wright and City Councilors Seth Morrisey, Tita Montero and Chris Binnicker are coming to the end of their four-year terms. Wright has told KMUN he plans to run again.
Padraig Ansbro was appointed earlier this year to fill the Ward 2 seat after the previous city councilor moved from the area. His appointment will conclude at the end of the year.
City Manager Spencer Kyle acknowledged the situation was unique. He noted that one result of that election could be a complete turnover of the entire City Council.
City councilors made the call to push for the July 25 deadline at a meeting this week. If they had opted to appoint people to the vacant seats on or after July 26, voters would not get a chance to weigh in until the November 2028 election — a situation all five sitting city councilors said they opposed.
“There are good reasons to do it sooner,” Kyle said of the appointment process. “There are good and valid reasons to do it later.”
There was, he emphasized, no right or wrong reason and that various values and priorities could certainly sway a councilor one way or the other.
To be eligible for appointment to the vacant Ward 3 or at-large Ward 1 and 2 seats, interested candidates must be full-time residents of Seaside for at least the previous 12 months. They must be a current resident in the ward they are applying for and they must be a registered voter. They will need to get 20 signatures from other registered voters in the board.
The deadline to complete an application is May 29.
Anyone appointed who is interested in also running as a candidate in the November election will need file for candidacy by the August 25 filing deadline.
More information about how to apply as a candidate for the Ward 3 and the at-large position representing Wards 1 and 2 is available at the city of Seaside’s website.