(DUBLIN) – Councilman John Morada would have been the Dublin Vice Mayor in 2026 if not for internal council dynamics that diminished his shot.
Instead, Councilmember Jean Josey will be the next vice mayor, despite Mayor Sherry Hu's nomination and a string of residents nominating Morada. With Vice Mayor Kashef Qaadri to her right, Mayor Hu explained the rotating vice mayor position to the public last night.
“Every member of this council has had the opportunity to except Councilman John Morada,” Hu said.
Hu also noted that tradition has been to rotate councilmembers, allowing those who have not served before to rise to the occasion.
This year was unique in that all of the council members had already served as vice mayor. And before those, according to OpGov.ai research, there was no repeat vice mayor in the history of Dublin City Council.
Hu went out of her way to say that the vice mayor position is not a leadership role, but rather just ceremonial.
“John has continuously demonstrated a strong work ethic and valuable professional expertise,” Hu said, adding that his passion for serving the community is evident. “I fully support and want to nominate Councilman John Morada to serve as our next vice mayor.”
Mayor Sherry Hu at the Dec. 2 Dublin Council meeting, nominating Councilman John Morada as vice mayor for 2026
Eight speakers, three in the town hall, and five on Zoom, agreed with the mayor, beginning with Tom Evans, who countered Hu’s ceremonial comment, noting in fact a vice mayor is a position of “authority,” respect, and responsibility.
“It is both a privilege and a burden to be on the council,” Evans said, admitting his own personal opposition to policy displayed at the podium in the past. Evans commended the entire council for their “time and work” before noting the recently switched council seats from city-wide to district coverage. Evans said while Councilman Michael McCorriston could be considered for the position, Morada, who is a “fresh face with common sense views.”
Jeannie Giligerten took to the podium, also addressing the recent change to the council election.
“It is a real stepping stone for us,” Giligerten said.
Melissa Picachi announced herself as a 15-year resident of Dublin, noting that as mother of three, she is honored to call Morada a friend.
Dublin resident, mother of three, Melissa Pichaci, nominates Councilman John Morada as vice mayor along with seven others.
“He is someone I look up to,” Picachi said, noting he was a coach for her daughter, who, instead of playing a game, wanted to pick daisies. “Thanks to John she is on the DHS varsity soccer team.”
While Picachi said Morada also made an impression on her as the Dublin United Field Director, the next citizen said National Night Out was when Morada caught their attention.
“What really stood out immediately was how naturally he connected and his family to our community,” Beverley Salsato said, adding that Morada’s youth sports engagement enriches programs. “They build confidence in our kids, and they strengthen relationships across neighborhoods.”
But there is one thing that impresses the resident most.
“Despite the demands of an executive career and his council responsibilities, he still prioritizes his family, his neighbors, and this city,” Salsato said.
Resident Heidi Fielding, an 11-year resident, also spoke over Zoom, noting Morada’s leadership skills, noting that she served with him as a director on a homeowners association (HOA) board.
“I am sure he has brought the same level of integrity and ethics to his current role on the city council,” Salsato said. “A promotion to vice mayor is well deserved.”
Eleven-year resident Brian Ding said he met Morada in 2019, also on the local HOA.
“He demands attention to detail in every document,” Bing said. “It's just what he did tonight.”
Chirag Kathrani, founder of OpGov.ai, also nominated Morada, pointing out Morada's attention to public safety reported last month.
"In the previous meeting, we sent out an email for all the council members and the mayor about the bike issue and the only council member who responded to our query was John Morada," Kathrani said.
Arjan Mahajan was the youngest resident to nominate Morada.
“I'm a 16-year-old sophomore at Emerald High School, and I would like to support John Marada for Vice Mayor,” Majan added, saying he has followed his initiatives. “I've seen him stand up against unsafe Ebike policies, which actually affected one of my friends in Emerald High School with a head injury.”
The student said Morada is “passionate about serving the community.”
Morada said it was “hard to follow the commentary” offered by the public. He began noting that while it is pointed out as a “ceremonial role,” it still requires grace, respect, and integrity for everybody behind this dais.
“Although not necessarily a leadership role, we do exhibit the leadership necessary to be this stand up,” Morada said, noting he is ready to serve on the dais as the leader upon notice, mentioning it was his wife's birthday. "And, I am here."
One minute Morada was the vice mayor, and then he wasn't.
Instead of remaining fair and following their leader's nomination, the council denied Morada the right that is rightfully his by popular public opinion, eight to be exact.
“After looking at the number of people who supported John, I did not look to the end of the meeting to see that he was not the vice mayor, so we published it,” Kathrani said after the meeting.
Councilmember John Morada LinkedIn page
Councilmember Morada was reached for commentary the following morning.
He felt the reasons expressed seemed to reach and grab for something that wasn't there.
"For example, McCorriston in one sentence noted I was overqualified but then a moment later said I was undercommitted," Morada said, adding that the vice mayor said he had to wait two years to be nominated. "Apparently, time is a deciding factor, although the City Attorney said there really weren’t any criteria documented as pre-qualification."
The ambiguity of comments and lack of evidence come at a time when both are running for office next year, Morada added.
Councilmember Morada said he is graciously relieved the debate happened the way it did.
"The true character of people behind the dais really came out," Morada said, adding he appreciates OpGov.ai covering the meeting with such diligence due to next year's mayor and Districts 2 and 4 elections.
Morada concluded he will ensure Dublin residents are reminded of last night's outcome.
So will OpGov.ai, which would like to end by noting that not one public member nominated Josey. Not one.
So, I ask reader, do existing Dublin officials really care about what their residents want?
No.
Sorry, Morada, you deserve better.
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