Want An Appointment To City Council?

San Leandro citizens will get a rare chance to seek appointment to the city council once its members create a process for .

The two-term councilwoman who lost the last mayoral election will soon move out of town and be ineligible to fill out the remainder of her term, which ends in December.

On Monday night, council members will finalize the details of the application process. The rough outlines are contained in a memo prepared by the city staff.

That outline includes an application form for those those who want to know what sort of experience and credentials will be sought.

If you're serious don't delay. Applications must be turned in by 5:00 pm, Friday, August 17.

Starosciak represents the fourth council district -- Washington Manor and vicinity. An official district map shows the boundaries.

Applicants must be registered voters and district four residents at least 30 days before the appointment takes place. So if you live elsewhere and want the spot, start packing.

The council may impose other conditions Monday night, perhaps requiring applicants to turn in a certain number of signatures of supporters.

Three candidates are running to replace Starosciak: Darlene Daevu, Chris Crow and Benny Lee.

Will they apply for the temporary appointment and will one of them be chosen?

"If the City Council appoints someone who is running for the seat, it will be a huge advantage for that person in the November 2012 election," opines Mike Katz-Lacabe, a school board member and author of the San Leandro Bytes blog. "Since 1970, only three incumbents have been defeated: Councilmember Al Nahm in 1974, Mayor John Faria in 1994, and Mayor Tony Santos in 2010."

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