Middlebrook selected to fill former South Lake Tahoe council member's seat

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The City Council voted Tuesday to appoint Devin Middlebrook as the interim city council member to fill John Friedrich's seat until December 10, 2024.

Councilmember Scott Robbins said he didn't see why they needed to make a move now with the election so close. By law, the council had to appoint someone before the election to ensure there is a quorum at each meeting and that city business could move forward without delay.

There were several community members interested in filling Friedrich's seat besides Middlebrook: current candidates Keith Roberts, Heather Cade-Bauer, and Aimi Xistra, as well as Erica Menser, Erick Asbury, and Noah Schwinghamer.

Not wanting to give candidates an edge in November, and to move forward with someone who already knows the job, the council voted 3-1 to bring former mayor Middlebrook on board. Robbins was the dissenting vote. He was sworn in right away and took the empty chair on the dais.

A 3-1 vote made Tamara Wallace mayor pro tem until December 10. Robbins had also put his hat in the ring.

The council divided up Friedrich's other duties:
Cristi Creegan will take a seat on the TRPA Board
Cody Bass will move up from alternate on Tahoe Transportation District and Robbins will take alternate
Creegan becomes the alternate on STPUD 1x1, Robbins the alternate on LTUSD 2x2, and Creegan goes onto the Multi-Cultural Alliance.