Santa Monica Councilmember Tony Vazquez Scheduled to Take State Board of Equalization Seat January 7
November 28, 2018 4:37 PM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Earlier this month, Councilmember Vazquez, a thrice-elected Councilmember and former Mayor of our City, was elected by the voters to serve on the State Board of Equalization (SBOE). Because state law prohibits a person from holding two public offices simultaneously if the duties of those offices potentially overlap, City Attorney Lane Dilg requested an advisory opinion from the California Attorney General as to whether these offices are “incompatible” as a matter of law. The Office of the Attorney General has opined that the offices are indeed incompatible, and Councilmember Vazquez has advised the City Attorney of his decision to step down from the Santa Monica City Council effective January 7, 2019, when he will be sworn into his new seat on the SBOE.
In accordance with City Charter Section 603, the City Council will have 30 days after the vacancy arises (until February 6, 2019) to fill the seat by appointment. In the absence of an appointment in that time period, a special election will be called.
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