No stranger to resignations and appointments, the Grover Beach City Council is calling for applications to fill its recently vacated 3rd District seat.
Third District Councilmember Kathy McCorry-Driscoll resigned from the council on Aug. 14. McCorry-Driscoll, the owner of a brand strategies company and HR director at nonprofit Restorative Partners, moved away from Grover Beach to support her family.
“I am proud of what we have accomplished together and grateful for the trust you have placed in me,” she wrote in her resignation email to the city. “While this role has been incredibly fulfilling, I have come to recognize that my family needs my full attention at this time. Stepping away from my council duties is not an easy decision, but it is the right one for me and my loved ones.”
At its Aug. 24 meeting, the City Council opted to fill the seat by appointment rather than through a special election in March 2027—avoiding a prolonged vacancy and election costs estimated at $330,000.
“There is no legally required process, so the suggested process would be to call for applications,” City Attorney Jennifer Thompson told council members. “The city clerk would vet those applications to determine whether or not each of those individuals is qualified.”
Credit: FILE PHOTO BY PIETER SAAYMAN
Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens, 18 years or older, who are registered to vote in Grover Beach and live in the 3rd District. City staff recommended accepting applications through Oct. 2.
The City Council will interview applicants at a public meeting on Oct. 13 before voting on a preferred applicant. The appointed council member will serve the remainder of McCorry-Driscoll’s term until December 2028.
McCorry-Driscoll won her City Council seat on the back of a previous appointment process. Her predecessor, Zach Zimmerman, was appointed to the 3rd District seat in 2023 after former City Councilmember Anna Miller resigned because of a change in residency. Zimmerman chose not to run in the 2024 election.
Fourth District Councilmember Clint Weirick’s introduction to the City Council was also by appointment in 2023 when a vacancy opened after then Councilmember Karen Bright won the mayoral election. Weirick ran for the 4th District election in 2024 and won.
Second District Councilmember Jules Tuggle was appointed to the City Council in 2025, replacing recalled Councilmember Dan Rushing. Her appointment runs through December 2026, covering the rest of Rushing’s term. Tuggle is now attempting to hold on to her seat in the November election against Grover Beach resident Allen Thompson.
Grover Beach City Council members receive a monthly stipend of $720. Council members serving on specific boards, commissions, and committees as the city representative receive additional compensation. They also have the option of participating in the city employee medical insurance policy.
The application will be posted on the city website. Interested applicants can call the city management department at (805) 473-4567 or email gbadmin@grover.org for more details. ∆
This article appears in Aug 27 – Sept 3, 2026.
