Merced City Council will appoint a new member. What that means and how to apply
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Council voted Nov. 6 to appoint a District 2 member instead of a special election.
- Residents may apply by Nov. 21 online or in person; interviews occur in open meeting.
- Council must appoint within 30 days of vacancy, setting deadline Dec. 3, 2025.
The Merced City Council voted Nov. 6 to appoint a new representative for District 2, following Councilmember Ronnie De Anda’s resignation last month. De Anda recently suffered a minor stroke.
The decision came after the six-member council discussed the pros and cons of appointing a new member rather than holding a special election for the role.
Considerations included the cost and longer timeframe needed to run a special election, which would likely take place next March.
Councilmember Fue Xiong who represents District 6 was the only member of the six-member council who voted against the resolution.
“I think that we need to have an election,” Xiong said during the meeting. He expressed agreement with former city Councilmember Jesse Ornelas, who spoke during public comment and repeated, “Democracy isn’t easy, right? It’s not convenient.”
Ornelas was one of two speakers during public comment, both of whom expressed support for an election over an appointment to fill the vacant seat.
The council must appoint a replacement within 30 days of the seat becoming vacant, giving them until Dec. 3. The city is accepting applications now.
Residents of Merced’s District 2 can apply for the role through the city website at or in-person at the Merced Civic Center at 678 W 18th St until 5 p.m. on Nov. 21. Applicants will be interviewed publicly during an open meeting.
If the council fails to appoint a replacement by Dec. 3, then municipal code says a special election would be held to fill the vacancy.
This story was originally published November 13, 2025 at 7:41 AM.
