The Portola City Council filled three seats through appointment during a special meeting on Aug. 18. Mayor Bill Powers and Councilmember Lauren Miller will each serve new four-year terms. Jeff Gicklhorn will complete former Councilmember Pat Morton’s term, ending in November 2028. Gicklhorn will start Nov. 4, after the general election.
Gicklhorn shared his background with the council. He has experience in local government in Arizona and Montana and has worked in ecology and natural resource management. He grew up in Northern California and moved to Portola this spring.
In his application, Gicklhorn expressed a strong interest in contributing to the community. He wants to support collaboration and creative problem solving to address city needs. Gicklhorn aims to maintain cost-effective services, improve aging infrastructure, and expand public engagement and volunteer opportunities.
Pat Morton resigned from her council seat on April 8. Stephan Mangum was appointed to fill that vacancy on May 27 and attended his first meeting on June 10. Mangum agreed to run for election on Nov. 3 as part of his appointment.
By the Aug. 7 deadline, Powers and Miller submitted nomination papers for their four-year seats. Mangum submitted paperwork for his two-year seat. The Plumas County Elections Office rejected Mangum’s nomination because it lacked enough valid signatures from registered voters within Portola. The county extended the deadline to Aug. 12, but no additional nominations arrived.
City Attorney Steve Gross explained that California Elections Code prohibits submitting new nomination papers during the extension. Without other candidates, the council could appoint the incumbents and any qualified person to the vacant two-year seat.
Appointing candidates saved the city approximately $10,000 in election costs. Gross noted that even in an election, candidates could face write-in opposition. The council chose appointment to avoid that expense and fill the seats promptly.
