Amador County – The Plymouth City Council 2010 election became an uncontested race at the end of September when one of the candidates moved out of Plymouth.

Candidate Sean McGinness moved out of town at the end of September, which made the three-person race for two seats now an uncontested race. But one problem has arisen in that McGinness’ name will still be on the ballot.

Candidate Sandy Kyles, a planning commissioner appointed by Councilman Greg Baldwin, said Thursday that she was contemplating putting up campaign signs because the city attorney said if McGinness wins one of the seats, it would leave a vacancy on the council.

City Clerk Gloria Stoddard said “McGinness has left, so we need to make sure everyone knows that even though his name is on the ballot, he is not eligible to run for the city council position.” She said “it would be a waste of a vote if they vote for him.”

Stoddard said: “We called to try to stop the ballots from being printed and they already had been printed.” If he wins a position, it would create a vacancy, which the council would have to make an appointment to fill the term.

She only remembered “this happening once, and they picked another candidate” running for the council seats in Plymouth. It was four people running for two positions.

Kyles said she has met a person interested in taking a planning commission appointment to take her place on the commission, after the election.

Peter Amoroso said he was aware that the council could choose to make an appointment besides selecting from the two valid candidates.

Stoddard, Kyles and City Manager Dixon Flynn discussed the situation Thursday after adjournment of a joint meeting of the council and planning commission, which discussed a draft housing element update for the city General Plan.

Story by Jim Reece. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.