Title
Consideration of a resolution to appoint the only candidate for the Office of City Council, District 1 (Aysha Pamukcu), the Office of City Council, District 5 (Eduard “Eddie” Flores), the Office of City Clerk at-large (Rosa Govea Acosta), and the Office of City Treasurer at-large (Frank Risso), or to proceed with the General Municipal Election for all offices scheduled for November 3, 2026. (Rosa Govea Acosta, City Clerk, and Sky Woodruff, City Attorney)
label
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Consider adopting a resolution appointing the only candidate in City Council District 1, Aysha Pamukcu; the only candidate in City Council District 5, Eduard “Eddie” Flores, to the offices of City Council; the only candidate for City Clerk, Rosa Govea Acosta, and the only candidate for City Treasurer, Frank Risso, to respective four year terms, or proceed with an election in City Council District 1, City Council District 5, City Clerk, and City Treasurer.
Body
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On June 10, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 65-2026 (Attachment 1) calling for the City of South San Francisco to hold a General Municipal Election on November 3, 2026, in order to elect three members of the City Council for Districts 1, 3, and 5, a City Clerk (at-large), and a City Treasurer (at-large). The candidate nomination period for candidates was July 13, 2026, through Friday, August 7, 2026.
At the close of the nomination period on Friday, August 7, 2026, there were:
• Three candidates for one open seat in the City Council - District 3: Sophia Cyris, Buenaflor Nicolas, and Melanie Olson.
• One candidate for City Council - District 5, Eddie Flores.
• One candidate for City Clerk (at-large), Rosa Govea Acosta.
• One candidate for City Treasurer (at-large), Frank Risso.
The nomination period for City Council District 1 was extended because the incumbent, Mark Addiego, did not file. At the close of the extended nomination period on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, only one qualified candidate was nominated by the electors in City Council District 1.
• One candidate for City Council - District 1, Aysha Pamukcu.
In circumstances where there is only one candidate in a district or for an at-large office, California Election Code Section 10229 prescribes that the City Clerk shall present a certificate of these facts to the governing body of the city (Attachment 2), who may then, at a regular or special meeting before the election, adopt one of three actions.
The City Council may:
1. Appoint to the office the person who has been nominated, if there is only one; or
2. Appoint to the office an eligible elector if no one has been nominated; or
3. Hold the election, if either no one or only one person has been nominated.
This notice of these facts was posted on August 14, 2026, and will be published on August 20, 2026, in a newspaper of general circulation in the City pursuant to California Government Code Section 6061.
California Election Code Section 10229 states that if the City Council does not make an appointment by the 75th day before the election, August 20, 2026, the election shall be held, and the candidate will appear on the ballot. The Council may choose not to make an appointment. If the City Council takes no action, Aysha Pamukcu will appear on the ballot in District 1, Eddie Flores will appear on the ballot in District 5, Rosa Govea Acosta will appear on the ballot for City Clerk, and Frank Risso will appear on the ballot for City Treasurer.
If an election is held, the City Clerk will hold a write-in candidate period during which potential write-in candidates can file nomination documents with the City Clerk. The write-in period would be from Monday, September 7, 2026 - Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Per the Election Code, if the City Council makes an appointment, the City Clerk will not accept for filing any statement of write-in candidacy submitted after the appointment is made.
If the City Council chooses to cancel the District 1 election and appoint Aysha Pamukcu, the District 5 election and appoint Eddie Flores, the City Clerk at-large election and appoint Rosa Govea Acosta, and the City Treasurer at-large election and appoint Frank Risso, according to the Elections Code, it will be as though all were elected at the November election. The appointees would take office in their respective offices in December and serve their respective four-year terms. The appointments for the positions would have no effect on any other City Councilmember’s current term of office.
FISCAL IMPACT
Election costs are estimates and may vary significantly from one election to another based on several factors, including the number of registered voters, the number of jurisdictions participating, ballot configuration, and other election administration costs.
If the City Council elects to cancel the election for the uncontested offices of City Council
Districts 1 and 5, City Clerk (at-large), and City Treasurer (at-large), leaving only the contested
City Council - District 3 race on the ballot, the City’s estimated election cost is approximately $35,000 to $42,000.
If the City Council elects to place both the uncontested and contested offices on the ballot, the City’s estimated election cost is approximately $184,000 to $220,000.
Based on the estimates, canceling the election for the uncontested offices could result in cost savings of approximately $149,000 to $178,800. Actual costs will be determined following the election and may vary from these estimates due to associated administrative costs. These funds are included in the City Clerk’s Department fiscal year 2026-27 budget.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES ACTION PLAN
The City’s Municipal Election will promote community participation and strengthen collaboration with County partners by contributing to the Major Focus Area of Welcoming and Connected Community.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
None.
CONCLUSION
Because there is one open seat in City Council - District 1, City Council - District 5, City Clerk (at-large), and City Treasurer (at-large), and there is no measure on the ballot, the Elections Code allows the City Council to cancel the aforementioned elections and appoint the nominees. If adopted, the attached resolution would implement that option. If the City Council takes no action, the District 1, District 5, City Clerk at-large, and City Treasurer at-large election will proceed.
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 65-2026 - Resolution calling the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election
2. City Clerk Certification