AVENAL, Calif. (KFSN) — A special Avenal City Council meeting Thursday night ended with Councilmember Ricardo Verdugo appointing himself mayor.
The meeting was held at Avenal Elementary School, where Verdugo was the only councilmember present.
During the meeting, Verdugo conducted a roll call before appointing himself mayor. The action was met with applause from attendees.
Verdugo said he did not seek the position but felt compelled to take on the role.
“I never intended to be put in this position but the last time I spoke to you, you asked me that question and I said if there comes a point I have to step up, then that’s what I’m doing,” Verdugo said.
“Whether you are mayor or whatever you are, we acknowledge you and respect you for your leadership,” one community member said.
Others questioned the move.
“Are you happy that recall occurred so you could become mayor?” another attendee asked.
In addition to appointing himself mayor, Verdugo said he took action on agenda items that had been approved during a city meeting last month.
“The other action was to revoke the resolution that they passed to this election in November but it only had two open seats, but it’s actually four that’s open,” Verdugo said.
Avenal City Manager Antony V. Lopez said he does not recognize the meeting’s actions because there was no quorum.
“A quorum entails a majority of a board, the city council requires to have five councilmembers. Majority would be three for a quorum, this meeting is not going to have a quorum,” Lopez said.
“It’s not a meeting that is being recognized because it doesn’t have a quorum,” he added.
The developments also follow an April recall election involving Mayor Alvaro Preciado, Mayor Pro Tem Leticia Gamez, and councilmembers David Reyonas and Pablo Hernandez. In May, the Kings County Elections Office certified the results.
Recall organizer Dalilah Barajas said those who were recalled should have stepped aside.
“I would think that they’ve taken the high road and said ‘You know what? We accept that we are no longer wanted or needed in this town and step down,” Barajas said.
The Kings County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold a special meeting on Friday to discuss the four open seats on the Avenal City Council and placing those positions on the ballot for the November election.
