Oakley names new mayor, vice mayor

"OAKLEY - With the Oakley City Council's appointment of a new mayor and vice mayor on Dec. 9, Councilmember George Fuller was again bypassed for a top leadership position despite being next in line. In a 4-1 vote, Councilmember Hugh Henderson was named as the city's new mayor and Councilmember Aaron Meadows was selected as vice mayor. Fuller was the lone vote against the appointments."

"Pending council approval, Oakley previously utilized a district rotation system for the positions, City Attorney Derek Cole said. However, the City Council recently approved a change to its process that would rotate the vice mayor into the mayor position, while a councilmember who has not served would be eligible for vice mayor. Under the current system, Fuller would have been next in line to serve as vice mayor. However, for the third time since 2023, the District 5 councilmember was bypassed."

"Fuller was slated to be named as vice mayor in 2023. Without the council's support, Councilmember Shannon Shaw was instead appointed. In 2024, Fuller again failed to secure nominations from the council. Instead, Shaw was moved into the mayor role and Henderson was named as vice mayor. Councilmember Anissa Williams nominated Meadows as vice mayor, citing a formal censure by the City Council in October against Fuller over allegations of "bullying and retaliatory actions" against city staff."

Oakley City Council appointed Hugh Henderson as mayor and Aaron Meadows as vice mayor in a 4-1 vote on Dec. 9, with Councilmember George Fuller again bypassed despite being next in line. The council changed its rotation to move the vice mayor into the mayor role while making a councilmember who has not served eligible for vice mayor. Fuller was slated for vice mayor in 2023 but was passed over, and was bypassed again in 2024. Councilmember Anissa Williams nominated Meadows citing a formal October censure of Fuller over allegations of "bullying and retaliatory actions" toward city staff; Fuller rejected the allegations.

Read at The Mercury News