Hillsborough Council Skips Election, Appoints Two Unopposed Candidates 4-1

Hillsborough residents will not vote on City Council seats this November. At an Aug. 20, 2026, special meeting, the council voted 4-1 to appoint the only two nominees, newcomer Jeff Baxter and incumbent Vice Mayor Leslie Marden Ragsdale, instead of holding the Nov. 3 election. The move saves up to $51,000 and closes the write-in window, and it drew a sharp dissent from Mayor Sophie Cole, who argued that legitimacy comes from voters.

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• Council votes 4-1 to appoint Baxter and Ragsdale, canceling the Nov. 3 council contest
• Up to $51,000 saved in county election costs; Mayor Cole calls it "a drop in the bucket"
• Write-in path closes, though officials know of no successful council write-in
• City attorney: Brown Act binds Baxter now, months before his Dec. 14 seating

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Two Nominees, Two Seats, No Ballot

The basics: When the number of qualified nominees does not exceed the number of open seats, the Elections Code lets a council appoint those nominees "in lieu of" an election. The alternative is to take no action and let the election proceed.

Where things stand: City Clerk Lisa Natusch said the nomination period was extended to Aug. 12 because an incumbent had not filed in the initial window. It closed with exactly two nominees for two seats. Under the Elections Code, the council could act only after the fifth day following publication of the notice of facts, and Aug. 20 was the last day to decide.

The case for appointment: Three councilmembers pointed to ample opportunity to run, budget pressure, the rarity of successful write-ins, and tradition. They cited Atherton and local school board practice as examples.

"I think democracy has been served," said Laurie Davies Adams, Councilmember.

Ragsdale was one of the two nominees, and she framed the vote the same way. "I do think that democracy and our budget would be served by passing this resolution," said Leslie Marden Ragsdale, Vice Mayor.

Councilmember Christine Krolik took a harder line on the candidates who did not file. "If you want to serve on this body, you should have the passion for the role and also the executive functioning skills to file on time," said Krolik.

The other side: Cole supported both nominees as people but opposed skipping the vote. "I do completely disagree with not proceeding with an election," said Sophie Cole, Mayor. She argued that a council member's legitimacy and accountability come from the voters.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Councilmember Marie Chuang moved to adopt the resolution, and Councilmember Adams seconded. The roll call: For: 4 (Adams, Chuang, Krolik, Ragsdale), Against: 1 (Cole), Absent: 0.

• Residents lose a ballot contest for these seats but gain the budget savings.
• Baxter and Ragsdale take office Dec. 14 without facing voters this cycle.
• Prospective challengers lose the write-in route.

What's next: Krolik urged the incoming members to reach out to residents directly. "Perhaps they consider having a series of introductory coffees or events around the community," said Krolik. Baxter said that work had already begun. "I've already set up get-togethers with those who've reached out to me," said Jeff Baxter, council appointee. He noted about 35 years in the community and prior service on the town's Finance Committee.

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Cost Versus Principle: The $51,000 Question

Why it matters: Money was the most concrete argument for appointment, and it split the council along the same 4-1 line.

Where things stand: Natusch laid out the estimate. "There would be a savings in the budget of approximately $43,000 to $51,000 for the cost of the County services to administer the election," said Natusch, City Clerk.

• The county quote is a range because it depends on how many cities participate and how many candidates appear.
• The final county invoice arrives January through March.
• Natusch confirmed the estimate covers only Hillsborough's two council seats.
• The town has already spent about $3,300 on supplies, noticing and translation.

Councilmember Adams said she supported the resolution partly because of major budget issues facing the council. Councilmember Krolik said every dollar must be considered.

The other side: Cole rejected the fiscal argument. She compared the cost with the hundreds of thousands of dollars the council routinely approves. "I do think this is a drop in the bucket," said Mayor Cole.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The majority treated the savings as one reason among several, alongside tradition and the lack of competition. For a town weighing every line item, the decision avoids a county bill of up to $51,000 for an uncontested race.

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Write-Ins, Conflicts and the Brown Act

The basics: The Brown Act is California's open-meeting law. Among other things, it limits how a majority of a legislative body can discuss business outside public meetings.

Where things stand: Appointment ends the write-in period that would have run Sept. 7 through Oct. 20. Natusch said a write-in candidate would need:

• nomination papers
• a statement of write-in candidacy
• a Form 700 financial disclosure
• 20 signatures

Write-in candidates also get no ballot designation or candidate statement.

City Attorney Christopher Diaz said he had never worked for a jurisdiction where a write-in candidate succeeded. Natusch checked with the county. "I did confirm with the county that they've never had a successful write-in candidate for a city council seat," said Natusch.

Cole said she did not like that an appointment would close off write-ins, even though she did not expect any to come forward.

Conflict question: Ragsdale asked whether she could take part and vote on her own appointment. "There's no affirmative authority out there that concludes it's a conflict of interest for a candidate or incumbent to basically approve the resolution," said Christopher Diaz, City Attorney.

What's next: After the vote, Diaz flagged a timing issue for Baxter, who will not be seated until Dec. 14. "I would take the position the Brown Act starts applying to the new member as of today," said City Attorney Diaz. That means Baxter's conversations with sitting councilmembers fall under open-meeting rules immediately.

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Minor Items

• Baxter and other speakers thanked Councilmember Marie Chuang for her service on the council.

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Looking Ahead

Baxter and Ragsdale take their seats Dec. 14. The county's final election invoice is expected January through March. The debate over voter legitimacy also previews a later council discussion on how Hillsborough's mayors are appointed.