Temecula City Council To Decide Fate Of Vacant District 1 Seat

TEMECULA, CA — Temecula City Council is scheduled to discuss on Tuesday how to fill a vacancy on the dais following the resignation of District 1 City Councilmember Curtis Brown.

Curtis's resignation took effect Jan. 1, yet his four-year term on the council was set to expire at the end of 2026.

A District 1 contest to fill the balance of his unexpired term will be placed on the November 2024 ballot. But during the Jan. 9 Temecula City Council meeting, the four remaining City Councilmembers will decide whether to temporarily appoint a District 1 replacement who will serve until the November General Election. The councilmembers could make an immediate appointment, or allow interested District 1 residents to apply for the vacancy and then choose the top candidate, according to city documents. The council could also decide to leave the vacant seat open until November.

Regardless, during the 2024 General Election there will be three City Council contests on the ballot in Temecula: District 1, along with District 2 held by Councilmember Jessica Alexander, and District 4 held by Councilmember James "Stew" Stewart. The four-year terms for Alexander and Stewart expire at the end of 2024.

Also in November, Temecula voters will be asked to decide whether term limits should be imposed on City Councilmembers. Historically, councilmembers can serve unlimited four-year terms unless they are ousted by voters or decide to retire.

Councilmember Brenden Kalfus brought the issue of terms limits forward. In arguing for them last year, he said, "I truly believe that after too much time in office, there is just the potential to develop special interests and develop relationships. ... politicians have the possibility and the opportunity to cater to those interests and relationships more than catering to people that voted them in."

Term limits or a lack thereof had nothing to do with Brown's departure. A retired firefighter and current FEMA coordinating officer, his Dec. 13, 2023, retirement announcement was due to his ongoing service on Maui following the deadly Lahaina fire. The Aug. 8, 2023, blaze killed more than 100 people and charred thousands of homes, businesses and facilities. Brown was deployed to Maui on Aug. 10, 2023, following a disaster declaration by President Biden.

The Tuesday, Jan. 9, Temecula City Council meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 41000 Main Street. Read the full meeting agenda here.