Corte Madera set to name new council member
Town avoids election, citing cost
Corte Madera is set to appoint a new Town Council member after Vice Mayor David Kunhardt said this month he is moving back to the East Coast.
Kunhardt, 70, a retired solar energy developer, announced his resignation Feb 16. His family plans to move by the end of April, he said.
He has served on the council since 2018 after holding onto third place by 15 votes and securing one of three available seats on the council. He was appointed vice mayor last year. His term expires March 2022.
Council members opted for an appointment over an election because of cost concerns. It would cost anywhere from $43,000 to $58,000 to hold a special election, according to a staff report.
“Given that there is less than half his term left, I don’t think it would be a great use of taxpayer money to have a $50,000 plus special election for a handful of months,” Mayor Eli Beckman said.
The deadline to apply for the open seat is March 1. Completed applications should be delivered to the town manager at Town Hall, 300 Tamalpais Drive in Corte Madera or emailed to tcusimano@tcmmail.org. More information is at bit. ly/3uzjZZP.
Kunhardt said he hopes the town can appoint a replacement before he leaves to avoid a vacancy.
“I’m hoping the town could put together a process to have a replacement …” he said. “Then I will gleefully step off and do what I can to coach and help that individual to fit in this slot.”
Town Manager Todd Cusimano said the town could appoint a replacement by the second meeting in March. He said the decision to appoint was routine.
“There have been nine instances over last 60 years where the council was faced with a decision to appoint or hold a special election,” Cusimano said. “In every one of those situations, the last one in 2017, the council chose to appoint.”
Town Clerk Rebecca Vaughn said a special meeting to interview candidates is tentatively scheduled for March 16. If the council does not get a large number of applicants, she anticipates the council will make the appointment the same day.