PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg City Council will meet later this month to decide how to fill the seat of outgoing Councilmember Shanelle Scales-Preston, who is set to become the next Contra Costa County District 5 supervisor.
On Tuesday, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Kristin B. Connelly certified the results of the Nov. 5 general election. Scales-Preston received 41,317 votes while her opponent Mike Barbanica received 37,896.
Pittsburg City Manager Garrett Evans said the city has yet to receive Scales-Preston’s resignation letter, which once received will initiate a 60-day requirement for the council to fill the vacancy by appointment or call for a special election – which could cost between $450,000 and $700,000.
“We will still have a discussion item during the Dec. 16 (city council meeting) to discuss the council’s preference, (regardless if) we receive the (resignation) letter from Councilmember Scales-Preston,” said Evans. “They (city council) can appoint someone or hold a special election. We’re certainly ready for whichever direction they want us to go.”
Whoever is elected or appointed to the position will hold office until 2026, when the current term expires.
If the council chooses to appoint someone to the seat, the city will set up a portal within its website to receive applications from community members. The applicants will then be interviewed in an open session.
According to California Government Code Section 36512(b), if the city decides to hold a special election, it must be held “not less than 114 days from the call of the special election.”
A city staff report noted that state law allows cities with a population of up to 100,000 residents to conduct a special election solely by mail-in ballot to fill a vacancy.
“If the City were to conduct an all-mail ballot special election, the cost would range from $11 to $14 per registered voter, regardless of how many actually vote. If the City were to conduct an in-person special election, the cost is even higher, at $14 to $17 per registered voter,” the report stated.
Pittsburg has had three instances of council seats becoming vacant, the report stated.
“Historically, the vacant seat was filled by appointing a person after seeking applications and interviewing applicants,” the report stated.
In her newly elected role, Scales-Preston, 46, will represent the Contra Costa County areas encompassing Martinez, Hercules, Pittsburg, a part of Antioch, and a dozen other unincorporated communities. She was first elected to the Pittsburg City Council in 2020 and has worked for California’s 10th Congressional District since 2001.
Scales-Preston will replace Federal Glover, who served 24 years as the District 5 supervisor. Glover announced his retirement in December 2023.
