CHULA VISTA - A South Bay city has a new council member but the appointment was not without major protest by residents.
Demonstrations outside and speeches inside the Chula Vista Council chambers took place Tuesday over the appointment of a new city council member to take the seat vacated by Stephen Padilla, who was elected to the State Senate. The frustrations were over the perceived front-runner Devonna Almagro, whom residents claimed lied about her education and questioned whether she actually lived in the city. Almagro is currently a communications director for County Supervisor Chair Nora Vargas
In the end, Alonso Gonzalez, a broker with a land use and development background, was nominated and appointed by the council.
Chula Vista Mayor John McCann was the only one to vote against the move, saying he wanted the residents of District 3 to have a special election for the seat, but other council members did not support the idea.
Photo: City of Chula Vista