San Leandro Selects A Fresh New Face
26-year-old former school board member is appointed to replace Bryan Azevedo on the San Leandro City Council; On the way out, county counsel wants to hire seven new legal eagles
☕️MORNING BUZZ
Vol. VI, No. 1,226
—San Leandro cast aside more than a year of turmoil, replacing a disgraced councilmember who resigned and pleaded guilty to federal crime with a fresh new face.
The City Council appointed James Aguilar, a former San Leandro school trustee, to replace Bryan Azevedo in District 2 on Monday night. The 26-year-old Aguilar will be sworn-in at the April 6 meeting.
Aguilar, 26, appeared to hit all the right tones for a city council that has been seemingly out of tune amid internal dysfunction and distractions brought on by Azevedo’s involvement in the FBI’s ongoing public corruption.
—He said his top priority is the city’s upcoming budget cycle, which is expected to include a significant deficit. Aguilar pledged to help ease the impact by pursuing new revenue streams, securing grant funding, and attracting new businesses to San Leandro.
Aguilar does not intend to revisit the city’s recently adopted rent stabilization ordinance, he said, and emphasized bringing a younger perspective to the council.
The seat became vacant in February after Azevedo pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud and lying to FBI agents. He is not expected to be sentenced until early next year.
Acknowledging recent challenges, Aguilar said residents have seen the city struggle. “We have seen things go south, and San Leandro residents see that,” he said.
The appointment process was lengthy. Six of the seven applicants received full council consideration, but none initially secured the four votes required. Four candidates advanced to a second round before Aguilar ultimately won the appointment with four votes.
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—More inside:
CITY NEWS: San Leandro’s wunderkind councilmember once filed to run for the Assembly at age 16.
One of the last remnants of Russell City is gone.
COUNTY NEWS: County bids adieu to its county counsel and registrar of voters, while search for their successors continue. Plus, county names interim IT chief.
County counsel’s office wants seven new employees at a total cost of nearly $2 million.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE: Form 497 large campaign contributions filed on March 23.
