CAMARILLO : Council Expected to Name Smith Mayor

Financial planner David M. Smith, nearing the end of his second term on the Camarillo City Council, is expected to be elected mayor when the panel meets Wednesday afternoon.

Unlike many other Ventura County cities, Camarillo’s selection of mayor is not usually controversial or contested. In recent years, the vice mayor has automatically become mayor, a largely ceremonial position, the following year.

“That’s probably what will happen,” said Smith, 50, who was first elected in 1988. “It’s just sort of recent where we have rotated the vice mayor moving into that job.”

Mayor Mike Morgan, who will pass the torch at the outset of Wednesday’s council meeting, said the selection of mayor is fairly uneventful in his city.

“Usually it’s just pretty much approved,” Morgan said. “We haven’t had any controversy in years.

“We’ve all been mayor at least once,” he added. “So we’re just continuing to rotate it around. It’s an honor and it’s been a pleasure to do this sort of thing.”

Smith will face reelection next November.