David Happe To Fill Banning's Empty District 4 City Council Seat

BANNING, CA — District 4 has a familiar city council representative after a special council session Tuesday night. The sitting councilmembers selected David Happe to fill the void left behind by Reuben Gonzales, who resigned his seat in December after moving outside his district.

Happe returns to his former District 4 council seat after losing to Gonzales by a 17-vote margin in the November election. He once owned the Station Tap House Bar & Grill on Ramsey Street and San Gorgonio Avenue and has a history of supporting business-oriented efforts, according to the Record Gazette.

"I am extremely excited to have received the appointment to fill the council vacancy for District 4," Happe said in a released statement. "I feel incredibly confident that our council will work together to find a consensus on the issues facing residents of our city."

City Manager Doug Schulze shared a statement on the decision.

"The City Council has reached a consensus on filling the District 4 vacancy this evening through the appointment of David Happe," Schulze said.

The council established a consensus during the meeting, ensuring the residents of District 4 would not go without representation.

Administrative City Clerk Caroline Patton described the process for Happe's term.

"The newly appointed councilmember will hold office until the person who is elected at the November 5, 2024 election has been qualified," Patton said. "That person will then fill the vacancy left by Reuben Gonzales's resignation through December of 2026."

Related:

Banning City Councilmember Reuben Gonzales Resigns

Banning City Council Votes To Appoint New Councilmember