By Mountain View

Voters will decide who will fill Ambra’s seat as well as three open seats during a special election

Town Crier Staff Report

Mario Ambra’s April 17 departure from the Mountain View City Council prompted council members last week to take the unusual action of calling for two elections in November.

Council decided April 23 to hold a special election for the two years remaining on Ambra’s term and a regular election for three other open seats - both on Nov. 7.

“It’s very confusing,” said Councilwoman Rosemary Stasek. “It’s not the way I would have liked to have done it.”

City Attorney Michael Martello said the city was bound by law to hold a separate election to replace Ambra, who resigned following a conviction last month for misconduct. The action stemmed from accusations that Ambra tried to bully city staffers and work around City Manager Kevin Duggan.

The council decided to combine the mandated special election with the general election because of the savings to the taxpayers. It would have cost $350,000 for a special election, with September being the earliest possible time frame, Stasek said.

Council members decided to wait on a decision to fill the seat in the interim. The council could consider an interim council member at a later date.

Ambra, who left open the possibility that he may run for re-election as early as the November election, would have to run in the special election for the remainder of his two-year term, Stasek said.

According to the city charter, a council person must wait two years after serving two consecutive four-year terms, before running again.