Davis

I sincerely appreciate the strong support Davis residents have shown for my service in elected office in our community over the past 15 years. It has been an honor and privilege to serve as a member of the Davis City Council and the Davis Board of Education. I look forward to serving as mayor of this great community beginning in July.

I am running unopposed in the June 8 election to serve as a member of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. If I am elected to the Board of Supervisors, I will serve on the City Council until Jan. 3, 2011, when I will be sworn in to serve on the Board of Supervisors.

California state law anticipates that occasionally vacancies occur on governing bodies before the completion of terms. This is not unusual. If I am elected to the Board of Supervisors, the options for the Davis City Council after I vacate the office in January 2011 will be to call a special election or make an appointment. Any election entails costs to the city while appointments can be made with relatively minor expense.

Both choices have advantages and drawbacks. Both have been used countless times around the state and both have been used in Davis in the past. By law, I will not be a participant in deciding the process the council chooses. That decision can only be made after a vacancy occurs. I will not interfere in any way and will (if elected) devote my full attention to my responsibilities as a county supervisor beginning Jan. 3.

I assume that the four members of the council (two of whom have not yet been elected) will base their decision of how to fill a vacancy on consideration of the cost to conduct an election, the desire to have a transparent and open process, and the need to provide effective governance for this great city.

The council truly has work to do and I will help in that work as long as I am able. I look forward to focusing my time remaining on the council on advancing the cityÕs budget process, advancing the water and wastewater projects, and working with the new council to build effective governance and civility on the council and in the community.

Thank you once again for your confidence and the opportunity to serve this community.

Don Saylor

Davis

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