Print Facing the possibility of a six-hour or longer meeting to interview a record number of applicants, the Oceanside City Council decided last week to change a policy it adopted a year ago to bring “transparency” to the political appointment process. Thirty-six people initially applied to be appointed to the two years remaining in the District 1 council seat left vacant by the election of Mayor Esther Sanchez. One person has since withdrawn. The interviews and a possible selection are set for Jan. 27. Instead of all 35 applicants, the council voted 3-1 last week to interview only the top five picks of each council member. Their choices will be announced to the city clerk at the Jan. 27 meeting, which would mean a maximum of 20 interviews and probably fewer if some choices overlap. Also, they will shorten each interview to five minutes instead of 10.