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In somewhat dramatic fashion, Kris Keller, a member of the Planning and Zoning Board, became Oakland’s newest commissioner Tuesday night as she emerged as the public’s popular candidate, spurring two commissioners to switch their votes for her.
“I’m very thrilled. I so appreciate the people of the community speaking up for me,” Keller, who’s a professional services specialist at Floor & Decor, told VoxPopuli after she was sworn in. “[The commission] took the words of the people, so I’m just super happy to serve the town.”
Keller, who’s been an Oakland resident for about five years, is the second new face on the commission in a decade following Mayor Shane Taylor’s election last year.
Rather than just appoint a resident to serve the remaining two years of Seat 1 Commissioner Rick Polland's term after he resigned a month ago, the Town Commission agreed to a process of inviting residents who have lived in the town for at least a year to apply for the seat. Six residents, including Keller, came forward.
On Tuesday, at a 6 p.m. public special session, applicants answered questions for an hour before the commissioners nominated their choices at the 7 p.m. commission meeting. The process went three rounds and a candidate needed three votes to secure the seat. In the end, Keller, who was nominated by Commissioner Joseph McMullen, emerged as the favorite with Taylor and Vice Mayor Mike Satterfield being convinced to support her, while Commissioner Sal Ramos backed U.S. Navy veteran Trillshun Bacon.
Members of the public appeared happy with the result. A year ago, it was a different story.
At the time, Ramos vacated his seat to run for mayor, a race he later lost to Taylor. Rather than have commissioners appoint someone to fill Seat 3, as was typically the case to fill vacancies, Taylor opened up the process, inviting residents to apply for it.
Thirteen people, including Keller and Ramos, threw their hats into the ring. However, when it came time to nominate and vote for the candidate, three commissioners — McMullen, Polland and Satterfield — instead backed Ramos, while Taylor backed another candidate.
That outraged many residents who sought change on the commission. They got it Tuesday night.
Although Keller wasn’t nominated for Seat 3, she became more involved in government affairs, an interest sparked by last year’s mayoral race. She joined the Planning and Zoning Board — a position she resigned on joining the commission — and began regularly attending commission meetings, where she said she’s also gotten to know many residents.
During the Q&A, the commissioners asked the candidates four questions about why they applied and what they want to bring to the town. Keller said she wanted to carefully add commercial properties in Oakland while maintaining town charm and greater transparency in town government.
“In the last year, transparency has been a big topic of discussion,” Keller said during the Q&A. “I think the town has made major strides in that. I would just say … continuing to be transparent with the actions of the commission.”
Commissioners kept scorecards of the contestants, writing down responses and then making their choices. Once the 7 p.m. commission meeting began, Town Clerk Elise Hui read the nominations: Taylor and Satterfield selected Valencia College professor Jon Territo and Ramos chose Bacon and McMullen picked Keller.
“I remember, about a year or so ago, Ms. Keller had some concerns about the town, but what she did was, instead of just complaining and just having some comments, she got involved,” explained McMullen in nominating her. He added that she’s a newer resident who “may see things in a different lens.”
A second round of voting left commissioners deadlocked as they stuck to their candidates and no one candidate secured the necessary three votes needed to win the seat. Taylor suggested drawing straws when residents began clamoring to weigh in. Taylor readily opened the floor for public comment.
“Like Commissioner McMullen said, she didn’t just stand aside, she got involved,” Yumeko Motley, one of the 13 applicants for Seat 3 last year, said about Keller. “She’s advocated with her neighbors and her community to find out what the needs of the people are.”
Another Keller supporter, Kevin Cox said: “I was thinking … What question would I ask to someone who came up tonight? And the first question that kept popping into my mind was How many commission meetings have you been to over the past year? Respectfully, I think Kris really stands out in that regard.”
Commissioners voted a third time. Hui read the results aloud: Taylor and Satterfield changed their votes and backed Keller to audience applause. A teary-eyed Keller was promptly sworn in and took a seat at the front table as the town’s new commissioner.
“Hearing the people is what really made me change my mind,” the mayor told Voxpopuli.
“[Keller] made a commitment over the past year – she’s made a very significant one,” Satterfield told VoxPopuli when asked why he changed his vote. “The people spoke.”
Now in office, Keller is hitting the ground running, as commissioners chose candidates from a pool of applicants to serve on the town’s five-member charter review committee.
McMullen appointed Motley, an attorney; Ramos named Kurt Gies, owner of Wise Gies Construction; Taylor chose Salvatore Marullo, director of enterprise architecture at Pegasystems; and Satterfield picked Andrea Huneycutt, support manager at TAIT Towers. Keller will pick the final member at the Feb. 11 commission meeting.
Symbolizing her commitment to the town, Keller’s first vote as commissioner Tuesday was something she had worked on: an ordinance that creates a schedule of fees for building permits, inspections and zoning reviews. After Ramos suggested she call a motion for the vote, Keller was the first of the unanimous “ayes” that cemented her ordinance into the town code.
