The Huntington Beach City Council has filled the vacancy created by Tito Ortiz’s abrupt resignation last month. In a 4-2 vote Monday, city leaders appointed civil rights attorney Rhonda Bolton to the seat. She is Huntington Beach's first Black city council member.
More than 100 candidates were interviewed for the position. The two council members who opposed Bolton were Erik Peterson and Mike Posey. The latter wanted the city to hold a special election. Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Delgleize, who initially supported another candidate, changed her mind and voted for Bolton.
Bolton couldn’t be more different from the person she’s replacing.
“A local business leader shared with me recently that she is someone that doesn’t rush to judgement,” Delgleize said. “She makes well-researched, measured decisions, and I believe she will be a complement to our city council by bringing expertise to the leadership and business knowledge for these reasons.”
Bolton, who has served on the city’s Human Relations Task Force, cited homelessness and affordable housing as her top priorities for the city.
Read more at the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register.