HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-05-2013 B1 YoungGoodwin, Heather
m: Grimes, Maeve
.it: Thursday, January 31, 2013 2:02 PM
To: Goodwin, Heather
Subject: FW: City Council Appointment
Heather,
Please distribute for Item B1 on the February 5th Agenda.
Thank you.
maeve kennedy grimes
City Clerk
city of sm Luis oBispo
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
phone: (805) 781 -7102
email-; rngrimes@slocity.org
From: Jan Marx [mailto:janhmarx @9mail.coml
11-`-nt: Thursday, January 24, 2013 9:31 AM
CJ Young
Grimes, Maeve
Subject: Re: City Council Appointment
Thanks C.J.,
Please consider this public correspondence for 2/5/13.
Thanks
Jan
RECEIVED
CITY CLERK
AGENDA
CORRESPONDENCE
Date 2Z -5/13 Item# '��1—
On Jan 24, 2013 9:14 AM, "CJ Young" <clil'Lord.'ohn.young_cxr mail.com3 wrote:
Dear Mayor Marx,
I am writing to you today to encourage your consideration of Jeff Aranguena as an appointee to the San Luis
Obispo City Council in the wake of Councilman Andrew Carter's announcement of his resignation from the
council. As you know I am no longer of resident of San Luis Obispo, but as a longtime resident of San Luis
Obispo and as someone who cares deeply about the continued prosperity of San Luis Obispo I hope that you
will lend some consideration to my thoughts in your consideration of this matter.
While I believe that Jeff is an ideal candidate for appointment all on his own, I also believe that there are several
strong principled reasons to consider appointing Jeff to the council. Firstly, while I understand that there is not a
-titular rule designating the runner up in the last election as the appointed member in the wake of a vacancy
the council, I do believe that there is both a legacy of this practice in San Luis Obispo as well as a strong
argument to be made for the role of democratic principles in these matters. As you know, Jeff received
approximately 20% of the public's vote in this past November's election for City Council, finishing four points
ahead of the next closest contender. Appointing Jeff to fill the vacancy woula send a signal to the people of San
Luis Obispo that their voices are both being heard and valued in the wake of this somewhat unusual
circumstance in which a public official is appointed without direct pubic designation.
.,;ondly, I believe that Jeff s appointment would bring a particular perspective to the council that is potentially
absent from the current council's composition. Appointing a young working member to the council would bring
a new lens of diversity to the council that will be vital in effectively addressing the economic concerns that will
come before the council in the next few years. While the wisdom and experience of the current council is
invaluable, it would be of a great benefit to the council to add the perspective of a young public employee who
works with `at risk' youth in our community. I know that members of the council have expressed concern in the
past regarding the ability of an employed individual to serve on the council. However, the council cannot retreat
from the opportunity to embrace diversity of thought and different walks of life, but rather it should welcome
and celebrate the different perspective that Jeff could bring to the council.
I hope that you will lend consideration to both Jeff and to my input in your consideration of the appointment to
fill Councilman Carter's seat on the council. I hope that this letter finds you well, and that regardless of your
decision in this matter please know that we are thankful to you for your continued leadership and representation
for the people of San Luis Obispo.
Best regards,
C.J. Young