The Poway City Council voted unanimously Friday to delay setting a special election date to replace Councilman Tony Blain, who resigned on Nov. 5, a day after voters of his District 2 showed strong support for his recall.
Councilmembers said they wanted to wait for more information about the costs for two proposed election dates.
City Attorney Alan Fenstermacher told the council that they must take action within 60 days of Blain’s resignation. Blain won his seat in November 2024 and has served 11 months. His seat will expire in November 2028.
Blain has been accused of vote trading, along with threatening recalls against his colleagues and trying to use law enforcement to silence his critics, which led to the citizen-initiated Nov. 4 recall election. He has been censured twice by the City Council.
He also is facing felony charges of perjury and bribery.
If the council calls for an election on or before Dec. 20, the election would be on April 14, 2026, Fenstermacher said. If they set the date after Dec. 20, the election would take place on June 2, 2026, the same day as the statewide primary election.
He said the cost for the elections is likely to be in the low to mid six figures — and may be less for the June 2 election because it is the same day as the state primary. City staff does not expect to receive an estimate until after the November election is certified next month, he said.
Mayor Steve Vaus and Councilmembers Peter De Hoff and Jenny Maeda said they supported the June 2 date because it coincides with the state primary.
“I’m glad Councilmembers Maeda and De Hoff made the point about engagement in the June election, which typically has significantly higher participation,” Vaus said. “I think that’s very important. Especially when it comes with some cost savings.”
Councilmember Christopher Pikus said he would prefer the April 14 date “because it’s going to take 30 days after that for the registrar to certify the results.”
“I think two months extra for District 2 might be worth a little extra money,” he said.
The council in April unanimously approved a new policy that requires a special election when filling a vacancy that occurs within the first 18 months of a councilmember’s four-year term.
Blain is scheduled to be arraigned in January on five criminal charges filed by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office last month. The felony charges are perjury, asking for a bribe by a member of a legislative body, soliciting a bribe and destruction or removal of public records. The misdemeanor charge is for petty theft, pertaining to the removal of a campaign sign.