For the second time in less than six years, Ken Henderson will serve as Grand Terrace’s stopgap city councilman.
In October 2017, after then-Grand Terrace City Councilman Brian Reinarz abruptly resigned from his post after being in place for less than a year, the four remaining members of the council chose Henderson to replace him until a special election to fill Reinarz’s slot for the remaining two-years of his term could be held in November 2018. Henderson competed in that contest, which was won by Jeff Allen.
Two-and-a-half months ago, incumbent Mayor Darcy McNaboe lost to Councilman Bill Hussey in her bid for reelection. Hussey, who yet had two years left on his term as councilman, had to resign from his council post to move into the mayoralty. The council thus needed to fill that vacancy.Henderson, Vincent Rasso and Daniel Torres applied to move into Hussey’s former slot. In considering those applicants and their qualifications, Mayor Hussey and Councilmembers Sylvia Robles and Doug Wilson ultimately settled on returning Henderson to the panel. Perhaps reflecting their 2018 electoral rivalry, Councilman Jeff Allen, who was reelected to a four-year term in 2020, voted for Rasso.
Henderson will serve on the council for nearly two years, until what had been Hussey’s term as councilman lapses in 2024.
Henderson is a 38-year resident of Grand Terrace with a more-than-normal relationship to City Hall. Professionally employed as a municipal official, most notably as the director of economic and community development for the Town of Apple Valley from 1996 until 2008 and then as the assistant town manager overseeing economic and community development from 2008 until 2014, Henderson was brought in to serve as Grand Terrace’s interim city manager in January 2014, remaining in that post until January 2015.
Henderson thanked the council for the expression of confidence in him by granting him a second appointment.
“I look forward to working with all of you,” he said. “I can’t wait to get to work.”
Allen said there was nothing personal or political in his advocacy of Rasso, who is nearly three decades younger than anyone else now on the council.
Allen said the city needs to do something about its geriatric leadership and should court younger citizen representatives to “take this city over.” He said the 23-year-old Rasso fit that bill.
Henderson is to be sworn in at 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 24, at City Hall, located at 22795 Barton Road at the center of the 3.5-square mile, 13,150-population city.