Oakley needs to elect an at-large mayor. During the Tuesday City Council meeting, the resolution to enable such an election can happen. The current system of selecting the mayor is flawed and does not allow the community to hold the mayor accountable for their actions. December of every year, the council voted to appoint the mayor. A prearranged rotation schedule determines the selection. A standard for selection is in place. The Oakley Municipal Code describes the norm, and a URL to a copy of the item appears below. However, the council has not been diligent in holding the person to be selected to the standard. Oakley residents are keenly aware that the results of that non-accountability have been unpleasant. Tuesday evening, the City Council will vote on the issue of creating councilmanic voting districts. The choice is to have four voting districts and the mayor elected by the at-large community. The four-district concept is the one I favor, with the community holding the mayor accountable in the voting booth. The other option is to have five voting districts, with the council members selecting the mayor. In my perception, the appointment process has not served the City of Oakley well. This December, I will not be voting to appoint Vice-Mayor Pope as mayor despite his being next in the rotation for the position. There are a plethora of reasons I believe Vice-Mayor Pope has failed to meet the bar of the prescribed standards of holding the mayoral position. I will nominate Councilmember Meadows for the mayor position and nominate Mayor Higgins to assume the duties of vice-mayor. Now would be the time to commit to attending the Oakley City Council meeting this Tuesday, November 9, 2021, to voice your opinion on the matter. If one cannot attend the meeting contacting Oakley City Councilmembers of your position regarding the matter would be helpful.
https://fullerforoakley.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/mayor-standards.docx
George Fuller, MPA, MA
City Councilmember, City of Oakley, CA
