Thirteen people applied to fill the vacant seat created when Kevin Mullin was elected to the Assembly. Mullin still has nearly three years in his term. A number have applied in hopes of being appointed: Rhonda Ceccato, San Mateo County Board of Education trustee; Parks and Recreation Commissioner Mark Nagales; South San Francisco planning commissioners Pradeep Gupta, John Prouty, Rick Ochsenhirt and Carlos Martin; John Poletti; Nakshin Shah; Arnel Junio; Katherine MacKay Nelson; William Lock; Michael Lew and Alan Wong, according to the City Clerk’s Office. Candidates were interviewed over the last week but no action was taken. Instead the council will take up the discussion again Monday, Dec. 31.

There are a few options before the council: Appoint someone to fill the remainder of the term, through 2015; appoint someone until the next regular election in 2013; or hold a special election.