Paso Robles City Council picks new mayor following death of Steve Martin
Council member John Hamon is the new mayor of Paso Robles after being appointed Thursday night to fill the vacancy left by the death of Steve Martin last month.
Martin died Aug. 15 at the age of 71 after a battle with an aggressive form of cancer. At the time of his death, Martin still had three years left on his term at the helm of the city.
On Wednesday, the Paso Robles City Council decided it would appoint a replacement to finish out the rest of Martin’s term rather than hold a special election.
The City Council then unanimously appointed Hamon, who has acted as interim mayor during Martin’s absence due to his illness, to fill the vacant spot on Thursday night.
“I wish that circumstances were different at this point in time,” Hamon said after he was chosen, “but I’m willing and able to move forward and move our city — with the help of our council — to get our city going in the right directions and keeping the public happy with what we are doing.”
How will vacant Paso Robles City Council spot be filled?
Hamon’s move to mayor does open another vacancy on the City Council.
On Thursday night, the council voted to fill the spot by appointment.
The city will take applications from those interested in filling the now-vacant seat, which represents District 1, through Sept. 21.
Candidates will then be interviewed by the City Council at a special meeting on Sept. 26, and an appointee will be sworn in at the next regular meeting on Oct. 3.
That person will hold office until the next regularly scheduled election in 2024.
