On June 5, 2017, the Rancho Cordova City Council appointed Garrett Gatewood to the City Council seat left vacant by the passing, on April 20, 2017, of longtime City Council Member Dan Skoglund.

Garrett Gatewood, a resident of Rancho Cordova for 12 years, is the owner of Business Computer Services of Sacramento. He has been an active member of the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce for five years, and he has served on the Board of Directors of the Chamber for the past three years. He is also actively involved in two nonprofits, Sonders Solutions, which places veterans into jobs, and Region Technology, which works to bring technology jobs to the greater Sacramento region. Mr. Gatewood was instrumental in a S. White Rock clean-up event in partnership with City staff, Republic Services, and Volunteers in Neighborhood Services. He is a Little League and soccer coach, as well.

"It's never an easy task to fill the shoes of a colleague like Dan Skoglund, but it's encouraging to see the tremendous civic engagement that is represented by the 24 applications we received," said Mayor Donald Terry. "We had a number of very qualified candidates, but only one can be appointed. I am thrilled to welcome Garrett Gatewood to the Rancho Cordova City Council."

The City Council, within sixty (60) days from the date of the vacancy, is required to either fill the vacancy by appointment or call a special election to fill the vacancy. At its May 15th meeting, the City Council voted to open an application process to appoint a new Council Member to complete the remainder of Council Member Skoglund's term, which ends in December 2018. An appointment is required by June 19, 2017.

Applications to fill the vacant City Council position were open from May 16 - May 30, 2017. Twenty-four residents applied and, later, three applications were withdrawn. Nineteen of the 21 applicants attended Monday's Council meeting, providing formal statements as to their willingness and ability to serve on the City Council. City Council Members also listened to many members of the public who provided public testimony.

After public deliberation by the City Council, the candidates were narrowed to three and then to two. Council then voted to select Garrett Gatewood to fill the vacant City Council seat. Mr. Gatewood will be sworn in at the June 19, 2017 Council Meeting.

"It is an honor and a privilege to serve my City in this manner, and I know I have big shoes to fill," said Mr. Gatewood. "Rancho Cordova is the greatest city in which to live and work, and I only see great things in its future. I look forward to being a part of that future."

In order to be eligible to hold office as a member of the Rancho Cordova City Council, a person must be a registered voter and otherwise qualified to vote for that office at the time the application is submitted. During the term of office, a person must also continue to reside in the City.