The board has three options: it can appoint someone to fill the vacancy, hold a special election or call on the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to appoint someone. If the CSD board doesn’t appoint a replacement or call for an election by April 6, the supervisors are automatically charged with naming an appointee within 90 days of the resignation. Expectations are that the CSD board will either make the appointment or request that the Board of Supervisors make it – which has been done in the past – and avoid the cost of a special election, which could run between $17,000 and $53,000.
In 2009, Dawson and current CSD Vice President Kevin Graves were appointed to the CSD boards by the supervisors when the CSD board could not agree on candidates to fill the seats vacated by Shannon Murphy-Teixeira and Dave Dove.
Since more than 50 percent of Dawson’s term remains – it expires in 2014 – whoever replaces him will do so only until the upcoming November election. Directors Ray Tetreault and Mark Simon are also up for re-election in November, which will leave the CSD board with three seats to fill.
“We’re looking forward to the process,” said General Manager Rick Howard. “And we’ll look forward to being involved in whatever the board decides regarding the remainder of Brian’s term.”
Dawson resigned Feb. 6 during an effort to recall him in the wake of his arrest last August on charges of spousal battery and child endangerment. “My reasons (for resigning) were really twofold: To protect the district from the cost of an election and to save my family the pain of going through any more of the vitriol that was becoming commonplace about town,” Dawson said.
For additional information or applications, contact the town offices at 925-634-1131.
In the event that the CSD board cannot agree on a replacement candidate and does not vote to let the decision be made in the November election, the county board of supervisors would have the task of appointing a replacement.
Mark Simon
Discovery Bay CSD Board member