Andrew Carter to leave SLO City Council for Guadalupe post

San Luis Obispo City Councilman Andrew Carter will step down from the council in February to take a full-time job as the city administrator of Guadalupe.

Carter was first elected to the City Council in 2006 and is halfway through his second term, which will expire Dec. 1, 2014.

It is not clear yet whether the City Council will appoint someone to fill the remaining two years of his post or call a special election.

Carter, who has accepted a conditional offer with Guadalupe, must still pass a background check before the Guadalupe City Council approves his contract Feb. 12. He will be paid $80,028 in annual salary.

The SLO council will decide Feb. 5 how to fill Carter’s seat for the remaining two years.

The city’s charter dictates that the vacant seat must be filled by an appointment made by the majority of the four remaining council members within 30 days of the vacancy. If an appointment is not made, a special election must be called within 150 days.

Carter’s last day will be Feb. 20.

In 2010, the City Council appointed Councilman Dan Carpenter to fill the remaining two years of Mayor Jan Marx’s term when she sought and won the mayoral seat.

The appointment process was also used twice in the 1990s, according to the city.

After more than six years on the City Council, Carter’s contributions will be missed by many, City Manager Katie Lichtig said in a news release. Carter is known for his analytical approach to topics and his focus on financial trends, Lichtig said. During his term on the council, Carter became a strong advocate for pension reform.

In 2011, Carter led the way in seeking the repeal of binding arbitration. Voters overwhelming supported the repeal.

“We will miss Andrew’s passion for financial sustainability and keen ability to understand complex issues,” Marx said in a news release. “We all wish him the best in his new career path.”

Carter, a part-time instructor at Cuesta College, will oversee 35 city employees and a budget of

$6.8 million in Guadalupe.

“I am going to miss serving the people of San Luis Obispo,” Carter said. “I have absolutely loved my time serving on the City Council.”

This story was originally published January 23, 2013 at 1:27 PM with the headline "Andrew Carter to leave SLO City Council for Guadalupe post."