Not only is this a waste of money when money is so tight and could be spent in much more beneficial ways for people who need it, but continuing to let deadlines slide for those who ‘missed’ them only serves to send the wrong message to those very people who ‘missed’ these deadlines. “It’s ok to miss/ignore deadlines”. It is not ok to ignore your civic responsibility.

This is a waste of money! Can the council vote again and be fiscally responsible ?

I agree....what a complete waste of money and time! What's with Menlo Together (which District 3 council candidate Jen Wolosin is an active member of)? Why not do what's fiscally responsible?

Since we will have to hold an election anyway, due to having multiple candidates running in District 3, there is no reason not to include District 5.

Actually @Belle Haven Resident, it is costing the City of Menlo Park $14,500 extra to run the election in District 5. That's $14,500 that could have been spent helping residents. District 3's election has it's own costs.

Since our elections do not include an option for "none of the above" I see no reason to waste the money on this, particularly at a time when money is tight and could be going to many other uses where $14.5K could really help. That might be enough money to fund a head count for a couple of months.

I agree this is a waste of money and infuriating. Go Drew Combs for exercising common sense.
When was the last time a write in candidate won an election? Aren’t there like 30,000 people in this town. Spending $15k on this is like flushing 50 cents from every person who lives in Menlo Park down the toilet.

Recently in Portola Valley, a write-in candidate knocked out council candidate Nancy Reyering.

Write in candidates:

A write in candidate knocked out Nancy for a very good reason. That doesn't exist in this situation. This is a waste of money.

Thanks you Council member Drew Combs for using common sense in place of politics. Given the recent budget cuts, impacted short-term programs, long-term strategic planning, and lost jobs at the city level, spending a token $14,500 feels simply egregious. Considering Council member would win again opposed or not, this decision was quite tone deaf.