Riverbank council again deadlocks on filling seat

RIVERBANK -- The Riverbank City Council failed again tonight to fill a vacancy, which appears all but certain to go to a special election in June.

The council deadlocked 2-2 for the fourth time since December on how to fill the vacancy created by Richard O’Brien’s election as mayor.

The council has no meetings scheduled before the Feb. 8 deadline for action, after which the seat would go to an election under state law.

O’Brien and Jeanine Tucker have favored appointing Cal Campbell, who finished a strong third in the Nov. 6 election for two council seats, or opening the process to all five losing candidates.

Darlene Barber-Martinez and Dotty Nygard prefer to invite all registered voters to apply, which they said would better reflect Riverbank’s large Latino population.

City officials estimate the election cost at up to $57,000.