Jones' victory over Cooper may settle Elk Grove politics - For now

With Jim Cooper's concession yesterday to Scott Jones in the close battle for Sacramento County Sheriff, the political landscape in Elk Grove is settled, somewhat, for the next several months.

Had Cooper won the race, his seat on the Elk Grove City Council would have been vacated and how it would be filled was not determined. The council could have called for a special election or they could have made an appointment to fill the unexpired term.

Several people have already been posturing for an appointment or to make a run at the seat. But with Cooper still on the council until at least 2012, that parlor game has ended.

Nonetheless, with reapportionment of the city from five to four districts and the direct election of a mayor, the posturing between the various factions on and off the council will come to play.

For instance, how will Mayor Sophia Scherman and her political protege Council Member Pat Hume work with [or against] the apparent alliance between Cooper, Gary Davis and Steve Detrick? What district will reapportioned out of existence?

With just one city council meeting between now and the end of the year, there should be a period of relative calm on the city council. Once the the new year starts, expect to see the reindeer games begin.