A sharply divided Buellton City Council couldn’t decide who should fill the fifth seat, prompting the panel to revisit the issue in two weeks but also consider conducting a costly special election. 

In two separate votes Thursday, the four members were deadlocked at 2-2 regarding whether to appoint former Mayor Dave King or newcomer Carla Mead to the slot. 

Mayor David Silva and Councilwoman Elysia Lewis backed Mead, while Councilmen John Sanchez and Hudson Hornick supported King.

Ultimately, they voted 3-1 to consider the item at the Jan. 23 meeting, with Lewis opposed. 

The vacancy stems from Silva’s election to mayor while he had two more years left on his council term representing District 4.

After the pair of tie votes, City Manager Scott Wolfe said the council could call for the special election, delay the item two weeks to revisit the issue or see if other applicants pop up. 

“Any number of things could happen that could make you change your mind,” Wolfe said. 

The council has until Feb. 10 to fill the vacancy or it goes to a special election, which would cost approximately $35,000. 

“My question is, I’m open to extending this out for longer conversation, allowing additional people to apply, but I want to know, is there any point for that?” Silva asked. 

“I would ask you the same question,” Hornick said.

In December, the council agreed to appoint someone to fill the slot instead of holding a special election, which can be costly and take time.

Instead of having people fill out applications, they directed would-be candidates to contact each council member.

That created a lack of transparency since the name and background of the people potentially interested in the seat weren’t included in the agenda packet as typically happens. Silva said Mead submitted a letter of interest to the four council members, but it wasn’t included in the agenda packet as required ahead of the meeting.

With a background in education and as a volunteer for nonprofit groups, Mead also led opposition to the In-N-Out Burger proposal for Buellton. She lives in the Vineyard Village community near the proposal site.

“Throughout my life, I’ve been guided by a commitment to service. This opportunity to serve on the City Council would allow me to give back to the community I love in a profound way,” Mead said. 

Multiple speakers, including neighbors, coworkers and her husband, backed Mead’s selection with others sending emails in support of her selection.

King, a retired California Highway Patrol officer, said his record speaks for itself. He also opposed In-N-Out, plus pushed for safety improvements on Highway 246.

“I think some of my accomplishments that I’ve done over the last 12 years has served the city of Buellton and the citizens of this town,” King said. “Every decision I made up there on the dais was for the betterment and the good of the entire community.” 

The council’s discussions became heated as Mead’s supporters were called cheerleaders while those against her appointment were labeled gatekeepers.

Stating that he’s generally opposed to appointment to fill the slot, Hornick noted that the former mayor received 1,200 votes in the Nov. 5 election. 

Residents in four sections of the city vote for council members to represent them, but the  mayor continues to be an at-large slot with voters from throughout the city making the choice. Silva received 1,433 votes, while King has 1,294 — a 139-vote gap.

“If 1,200 people voted for him, I don’t feel like I’m empowered to take away that vote,” Hornick said. 

Silva said he struggled with the rationale since the votes were for mayor and contended that District 4 residents could have attended Thursday’s meeting to support King. 

Explaining her support for a candidate besides King, Lewis said she wanted to expand participation in Buellton civics beyond the small group typically involved. 

“I think he was a very wonderful council member, but my support would be for new voices and getting a new and different subset of the community involved in City Council,” Lewis added.

Sanchez said he has the longest tenure on the council among the four now serving.

“Six years is not a big, long run. It’s not some big dynasty thing,” Sanchez added.

Meanwhile, the Solvang City Council has a similar empty seat with two candidates submitting applications in a process boasting better transparency than Buellton’s.

That vacancy stems from the election of David Brown to the job of mayor with two years left on his District 3 term. 

V. Louise Smith, a small-business owner, chef and 15-year resident of Solvang, and Melanie Eckford-Prosser, a retired Santa Barbara City College professor, current clerk at The Book Loft and 23-year-resident of Solvang, have applied.

The Solvang City Council will consider appointing the fifth member during a meeting set to start at 6:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 1644 Oak St.