The San Rafael City Council will decide whether to call for applications to fill Councilman Marc Levine's seat if he wins the seat for the 10th District in the California State Assembly.
Levine managed to take the lead from his opponent Michael Allen, who outraised and outspent him by nearly a 3-to-1 margin, since election and continues to lead by a narrow margin. Levine was in the lead at 51 percent of the total 188,394 votes for Marin and Sonoma counties. Both counties are still counting provisional and mail-in ballots.
Levine will be sworn in as the new assemblyman on Dec. 3, and his election will be certified pending the total vote count by both counties. If he is certified, his council seat will be vacant.
"Under the provisions of the City Charter, the council may appoint someone for the remainder of the unexpired term," City Manager Nancy Mackle wrote in her blog.
The alternative to calling for applications is to call a special election at a cost of at least $150,000 to the city, she said.
Applications will be due Dec. 17, and the council will set a special meeting in January to interview finalists. Any applicant must be a registered voter of San Rafael. After the council authorizes, applications will be available online next week on the city clerk homepage, and in the city clerk’s office in City Hall.
Levine was elected to the City Council in November 2009, and has voted on several major local decisions, including Target, the city's agreement with minor league baseball team the San Rafael Pacifics and a moratorium on sober living homes. Although Allen has not yet conceded in the assembly race, council members congratulated Levine on his expected victory in their Nov. 19 meeting.
"Marc's example shows that our community and society depends on people stepping up to serve in office," Councilman Damon Connolly said at the meeting. "And as he moves on, hopefully many others will as well to fill his spot."
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