“If we focus on the dollars and cents on democracy, we put a price on something that simply shouldn’t be taken into consideration.”

— Jonathan Padilla of San Jose at a Monday night City Council meeting on whether to fill two upcoming council vacancies by special election or council appointment. Padilla favored an election. The council voted 7-4 for appointment over objections from Mayor Sam Liccardo and Mayor-elect Matt Mahan, citing multimillion dollar election costs.