How Monrovia's Elections Will Work (If They Happen At All)

From the city of Monrovia's website:

The Monrovia City Council will host a special meeting tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 24 to decide how to proceed with the April 9, 2013 municipal election since only two council candidates submitted nomination papers for the expiring seats.

Interim Councilman Larry Spicer and local attorney Alexander Blackburn filed their nomination papers to run for the two expiring City Council seats, which were vacant following the decisions by Mayor Pro Tem Joe Garcia and Councilman Clarence Shaw to not seek re-election. Also running unopposed are Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, City Clerk Alice Atkins and City Treasurer Stephen Baker.

Despite the fact that there are only enough candidates to fill the positions that are expiring, the election is not automatically cancelled. According to the State Elections Code Section 10229, the City Council has the option to appoint the three incumbents and the two Council candidates rather than continuing with the election. Alternatively, the City Council may decide to still hold an election.

Pursuant to the Elections Code, the City Council may act on this issue. The code time frame calls for a five-day waiting period after the public notice announcing the special meeting is published, and requires action 75 days before the election.

The special meeting is expected to be held at 4 p.m. on Jan. 24 at the Monrovia Council Chambers, 415 S. Ivy Avenue.