(January 16) The county board of supervisors this week rescinded its November appointment of Daryl Schendel as a full term director of the Barstow Heights Community Services District after it was realized Schendel already held a position on that board.
On August 27, 2013 a consolidated mail ballot election had been scheduled in the district but no one filed a declaration of candidacy for the office.
On November 19, 2013, the board of supervisors adopted a resolution appointing candidates in lieu of election to fill contest vacancies for various special districts in the August 27, 2013 Consolidated Mail Ballot Election in which no candidates ran for the offices. The board of supervisors has the authority to do this under California’s election code.
Among those appointments was that of Schendel, to a full term on the Barstow Heights Community Services District board and Jeanette Hayhurst to a short term on the same board.
According to San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters Michael Scarpello, “The recommendation by the district to appoint Daryl Schendel to the vacant office of director-full term was invalid because Mr. Schendel was already appointed to a four-year term that expires in 2015. Since Mr. Schendel already holds a seat in office, he is not eligible to be appointed to the office of director-full term for the August 27, 2013 Consolidated Mail Ballot Election. Therefore, it is recommended that his appointment be rescinded, leaving the seat vacant for further appointment.”
Scarpello continued, “Additionally, the information provided in the certified notification on April 19, 2013, regarding the short term seat was inaccurate because the short term seat was not scheduled to go up for election. Since the seat was not vacant, it is recommended that the appointment of Ms. Hayhurst to the office of Director-Short Term be rescinded.”
Scarpello faced down the dilemma, ending it on a chiming note by concluding, “As a result of the requested rescissions, it is recommended that the resolution be adopted appointing Jeanette Hayhurst to the director-full term seat.”
Thus vacancies on the board were redressed. The board of supervisors ratified Scarpello’s recommendation.