The Stockton City Council on the night it interviewed 11 applicants for the District 1 vacancy approved a clarified interview-and-voting procedure and then appointed Albert Holman to fill the seat vacated by Steve Vesterladez.

The council voted 6-0 to adopt a resolution approving the interview and selection procedure before conducting individual candidate interviews. City Clerk Meisner told the council that the procedure required a council member to mark a ballot for a single candidate in round 1 and that “the candidate receiving 4 or more votes is selected.” Meisner also described added clarifying language allowing at least two candidates to remain after round 2 in some tie permutations and the use of Robert’s Rules of Order to break multi-way ties or deadlocks.

Why it matters: The clarified procedure was intended to prevent a situation in which successive eliminations could leave only one remaining candidate and to give the council a clear tie-breaking path when multiple candidates split votes.

After the council approved the voting rules, it conducted timed interviews of all 11 candidates; each applicant was escorted into the chamber alone, given up to 15 minutes (including any opening statement) and was asked two standard questions followed by limited follow-ups from council members. Several candidates told the council they had experience in local boards, business, public safety or education; recurring themes in answers included the city’s budget shortfall, crime and public safety, education and downtown redevelopment.

Ballots and outcome: Voting proceeded in two rounds. In round 1 the council’s ballots (shown on the record) produced the following votes: Mayor Anne Johnston — Ken Davis; Vice Mayor Cathy Miller — Albert Holman; Council Member Martin — Albert Holman; Council Member Lowery — David Renison; Council Member Eggman — Albert Holman; Council Member Fritchen — David Renison. No candidate received the four votes required in round 1, so the top vote-getters advanced.

In round 2 the council again tallied ballots; the clerk announced the round-2 votes and then presented a formal resolution to appoint Albert Holman. The appointment resolution was approved by the council 6-0. After the vote Holman was sworn in and told the council and public, “I love this city, and I’m gonna do everything within my power to help this council get this city moving in the right direction.”

Public comment and process notes: The meeting opened with a public-comment period limited to the selection procedure and the candidates; the mayor reminded speakers that the special meeting’s sole purpose was the appointment. One public commenter, Dave Thomas of the San Joaquin Building Trades Council, publicly supported Mark Martinez. The city clerk and city attorney explained limits on candidate communications during interviews (candidates were sequestered and asked to turn off phones) and described timing and tie-breaking details that the council adopted.

Votes at a glance
- Resolution approving interview and selection procedure (clarifying language added re: subsequent rounds and ties): Motion carried 6-0.
- Resolution appointing Albert Holman to fill the District 1 vacancy (effective date noted in the resolution): Motion carried 6-0.

What the council directed and next steps: The council put the clarified voting rules into effect immediately for the appointment, completed the interviews and adopted the appointment resolution. The mayor announced upcoming council and goal-setting meetings; council members encouraged candidates who were not appointed to remain engaged through boards, commissions or future elections.

The meeting record shows the council used a structured, timed interview format, conducted two rounds of ballots and approved both the selection-procedure resolution and the appointment resolution by unanimous votes.