Wheatland City Council moves to fill vacant seat after mayor’s death
Less than two months after Mayor Robert Coe died, the Wheatland City Council is poised to appoint a replacement to fill his seat at Tuesday’s meeting.
Coe died of natural causes March 26 at age 75, creating a vacancy on the five-member council.
Under California law, cities have 60 days to fill a council vacancy either by calling a special election or appointing a replacement after interviewing candidates. The city opted for the latter.
Wheatland City Manager Bill Zenoni said the city chose to seek applications rather than hold a special election because of the cost and the short time remaining in Coe’s term, which expires in December. Coe won election in November 2022 by 35 votes in the city of 3,700 people.
“A special election is costly, and it takes time,” he said. “Since we only have a short seven months until Bob’s term expires, this was the most cost-effective and expeditious way to fill the seat.”
Wheatland City Clerk Josie Camacho said Yuba County estimated that a standalone special election would cost the city between $30,000 and $45,000.
Zenoni said the city must make an appointment by May 20, though officials hoped to fill the seat Tuesday evening during its meeting at the Wheatland Community Center at Nichols Park, 101 C St.
Any Wheatland resident who is a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old and registered to vote was eligible to apply for the seat.
