Menlo Park: Jellins elected mayor third time in six years Menlo Park: Jellins elected mayor third time in six years (December 14, 2005)

** Majority denies Fergusson mayoral seat; clear council divide entering election year.

By Rory Brown

Almanac Staff Writer

The 2006 election year is off to a "very early" start, Menlo Park Councilwoman Lee Duboc said as she nominated Councilman Nicholas Jellins to be mayor during a contentious City Council meeting December 6.

Ms. Duboc joined councilwoman and outgoing mayor Mickie Winkler and Mr. Jellins himself in appointing Mr. Jellins to the post, which involves chairing council meetings and serving as ceremonial head of city government.

The other two council members -- Kelly Fergusson and Andy Cohen -- were opposed. Several speakers also opposed the appointment of Mr. Jellins, who will serve in the mayoral post for the third time in six years.

The three council members who voted for Mr. Jellins' appointment frequently vote together on major issues and receive more support from real estate and development interests than the other side. All three of their seats are up for election in November 2006.

The other faction on the council, represented by Ms. Fergusson and Mr. Cohen, are generally referred to as "residentialists" and are backed by those favoring more pro-environment and anti-traffic policies.
Lobbying

Before finishing her nomination of Mr. Jellins, Ms. Duboc said she had "never seen such a lobbying effort by supporters of Kelly Fergusson and Kelly Fergusson herself" to push a candidate into the mayoral seat.

More than 50 people attended the December 6 council meeting, many in support of Ms. Fergusson, who was named mayor pro tem, the council member who serves as mayor when the mayor is absent.

Mr. Jellins previously served as mayor in 2001 and 2003.
Policy disregarded

In choosing Mr. Jellins, the three shunned a policy adopted in 1993 that says council members who have served at least one year, but have not been mayor, should be first in line for the mayoral chair.

Under that policy, Ms. Fergusson or Mr. Cohen should have been handed the gavel. But the policy can be disregarded by a majority vote.

For the second time in three years, Ms. Winkler, Ms. Duboc and Mr. Jellins disregarded it.

In an interview after the meeting, Mayor Jellins said the mayoral policy "has no effect on this council." He added that he has no plans to make a motion to amend it.

Ms. Winkler said the council made a point to not "refer to or reinstate" the 1993 policy in a new procedure guideline proposed for the City Council.

Ms. Duboc and Ms. Winkler have repeatedly said council members should choose a mayor they are comfortable with -- not necessarily follow a policy.

After the meeting, Ms. Fergusson said she was "very disappointed with the disturbing lack of integrity" council members showed in opting to ignore the policy.

At the meeting, 11 people spoke on Ms. Fergusson's behalf, urging the council to follow the policy.

Former councilman Steve Schmidt brought a 1998 campaign sign for Mr. Jellins, reading his former colleague's campaign slogan: "Reasonable, balanced, sustainable solutions." Mr. Schmidt said the reasonable and balanced thing to do is to elect Ms. Fergusson or Mr. Cohen mayor.

Speakers also criticized the council majority for their handling of city issues, including a proposal for a golf course at Bayfront Park.

One speaker, Henry Riggs, praised the council for their efforts, and recommended they appoint an "experienced" council member mayor.
Criticism of Fergusson

Mr. Cohen, who nominated Ms. Fergusson for mayor -- a vote that failed 2-3 with Mr. Jellins, Ms. Winkler and Ms. Duboc dissenting -- called the nomination of Mr. Jellins "another attack on [Ms. Fergusson]."

Of the decision to ignore the council's mayoral policy, Mr. Cohen said members of the council were allowing politics rather than process to guide their decisions.

Ms. Duboc, in her nomination of Mr. Jellins, said Ms. Fergusson has been "a vocal advocate against many of the important projects" the council has been working on.

After the meeting, Ms. Duboc said the projects Ms. Fergusson has hindered include the child care center project, considering alternative uses for Bayfront Park, and streamlining the city's commercial permitting process.

Ms. Duboc nominated Ms. Fergusson to be mayor pro tem -- a nomination Ms. Fergusson initially rejected, citing past difficulties working with Mr. Jellins, but eventually accepted after coaxing by Mr. Jellins and Ms. Duboc.

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