The San Jose City Council voted 6-0 with one abstention Friday evening to appoint Margie Matthews to an empty Council District 4 seat until an election is held for a successor.
Matthews is a former City Council member who once represented District 4, where Assemblyman Kansen Chu, D-San Jose, served for more that seven years before resigning last month following his election to State Assembly District 25 on Nov. 4.
The city council met Friday to replace the District 4 seat vacated by Chu. In a mixed vote earlier this month, the council decided to appoint an interim replacement, rather than waiting till January. A special election will be held April 22.
The sped-up appointment process and Liccardo's quick recommendation of former council member Matthews had critics accusing the mayor-elect of ignoring democracy, bypassing voters and insulting the employee unions.
Several council members, including Ash Kalra, boycotted the replacement process Friday calling it a rushed power grab by Liccardo to get more supporters on the council.
"By pushing through this appointment he may feel this is a sign of strength but it's actually a very, very distinct sign of weakness," Kalra said.
“It's unprecedented, it's dishonest, It's unethical," said former council Kansen Chu.
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The police and firefighter unions say they feel betrayed by the new mayor, and see a long drawn out fight over pension reform.
“It may be unavoidable and that's too bad. It's sad for the troops,” said POA president-elect Paul Kelly. “ I think it’s sad for city hall and its citizens and everybody in district four."
Liccardo did not back off his support for Matthews as she did her public interview before the council. And he pointed out the council followed all legal processes and that the district needed representation as soon as possible.
Liccardo scoffed at accusations he betrayed anyone.
"We know a lot of people would like to hit the re-set button on the last mayoral election,” he said. “I know that. We are going to continue to work with everybody."
#SJ city council w several members apparently boycotting appoint #MargieMatthews interim Dist 4 Council rep. pic.twitter.com/hHa5biKRXv — RobertHanda (@RHandaNBC) December 20, 2014
Some #sj council members/groups say #Mayor and #mayor-elect rushing council replacement to help #SamLiccardo pic.twitter.com/cNiFfyg9s5 — RobertHanda (@RHandaNBC) December 19, 2014
#SJ #mayor Chuck Reed packing office today. Still has some memorabilia and political issues to clean up. pic.twitter.com/HagKGj7L26 — RobertHanda (@RHandaNBC) December 19, 2014
Bay City News contributed to this report.
