CAMARILLO : Selection Process for Mayor Criticized

The selection of Camarillo City Councilwoman Charlotte Craven as mayor last week has rankled some council members and their supporters, raising questions about how the city chooses its top official.

In the decision, three council members cast their votes for Craven, who was previously mayor in 1990, and two for Councilman Ken Gose, the only current member of the panel who has never served as mayor.

The vote was made quietly with no debate. But Gose, some of his supporters, and Councilman Michael Morgan, who nominated Gose, said they were disturbed by the outcome.

Attorney Kevin G. Staker, a law partner of Gose’s son, said in a letter that, when Craven and Councilmen Stan Daily and David Smith voted against Gose, “they really voted against the will of the people of Camarillo. They voted against change.”

Staker pointed out that Gose received more votes than Craven in 1990, when Gose was running for his first term and Craven for her second.

The mayoral position is largely ceremonial, but the mayor leads council meetings and can take a leadership role in shaping city policy.

Gose said it is only fair that council members take turns at filling the one-year position. He said he was somewhat insulted by his colleagues’ decision.

“I considered it a little bit of a slap in the face,” he said.

Gose said that, if the council will not rotate the mayoral position in a fair manner, the city may eventually want to consider making the job an elected position. “It may have to come to that,” he said.

Craven defended her elevation to the job, saying she has served as vice mayor for the past year and the council member in that position traditionally moves into the mayoral slot.

But Morgan, who was selected as mayor once in 1983, said he has served as vice mayor at least twice when he was not subsequently selected for the top job.