A last-minute flurry of activity in the City Clerk
’s office has turned up a total of seven possible candidates for
City Council and mayor in the November election, spurred on by
recent controversies at City Hall.
A last-minute flurry of activity in the City Clerk’s office has turned up a total of seven possible candidates for City Council and mayor in the November election, spurred on by recent controversies at City Hall.
Besides incumbent Mayor Dennis Kennedy and Councilman Greg Sellers, who announced months ago that they would seek the mayor’s position, former councilman John Sorci was mulling throwing his hat in the ring.
Julia Starling has filed and Susan J. Hughes, Frederick H. DiMeo and Allan P. Abrams all pulled papers and told City Clerk Irma Torrez that they might run. Marby Lee had said she was considering a council run but decided this week that she would not.
Because incumbent Councilwoman Hedy Chang has decided not to run for a third term, the filing deadline for council has been extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11.
Because the incumbent is running, the deadline for mayoral candidates to file with Torrez or the county Registrar of Voters is today, Aug. 6, at 5 p.m.
Incumbent Councilman Larry Carr said Thursday that he would file his papers for a second term on Friday. Sellers and Councilman Steve Tate were unopposed when re-elected in November 2002.
Sellers, who filed his papers for mayor on Thursday, said he is encouraged by so many potential candidates and considers competition good for the community.
“We (he and Tate) didn’t have competition two years ago,” Sellers said. “There was no chance to have a broader debate on the bigger issues.”
At least one new campaigner intends to have such a discussion.
Abrams said Thursday that lack of council responsiveness and the City Hall scandal are his reasons for running. He plans on filing today.
“I’ve been pretty upset by the shenanigans going on in the past six months,” Abrams said.
Council, he said, has refused to listen to what the people want over the library location and rezoning property near his house for more auto dealers.
“They seem to be doing what the big developers want and acting like parents of irresponsible children,” Abrams said. “I’m extremely concerned about the city’s intentions about putting an auto mall on Dunne Avenue.”
Abrams said he wasn’t against having auto dealerships in the city – he is sensitive about the budget deficit and knows the city gets operating funds from sales taxes from such businesses.
“But they shouldn’t be right next to single-family homes,” he said.
Abrams, who works in sales for FCI, a global electronic component manufacturer, has lived in Morgan Hill for eight years with his wife and two boys, ages 9 and 13. The children attend Morgan Hill public schools.
DiMeo is an independent insurance agent, working for Traveler’s Insurance and also has a meeting planning business. He lived in San Jose for 16 years before moving to Morgan Hill six months ago.
“We liked the small town atmosphere and the moratorium on excessive building,” DiMeo said Thursday. “I like the town and want to see what I can do to keep it the way it is.”
He said the council needs a bit more participation from people who can keep an unbiased opinion.
DiMeo and his wife, who is a legal secretary in the county District Attorney’s office, have two children, Stephanie, 11, and A.J., 7. The children attend Achiever Christian School in San Jose. If the council position doesn’t work out, DiMeo said he would try the Planning Commission.
Lee said the job would be fun, interesting and challenging but the time commitment was too much.
“I looked at my family and personal obligations over the next year,” Lee said, “and I don’t think I’d be able to devote the time I’d want to. It was a hard decision. You want to do it right.”
Hughes, a Realtor with Intero and downtown advocate, said Thursday that she would be filing early next week.
Sellers said people do seem to be aware of the time council duties take, especially when the numerous outside committees are considered.
“They see our activity and realize it is not an insignificant thing,” Sellers said.
Sellers, a long-time City Hall watcher, even before he signed up for the council, said history should make the council race interesting.
“Whenever there was an opportunity for an incumbent to lose,” Sellers said, “they lost.”
Carr beat out incumbent Cynthia Cook by a very few votes in the Nov. 4, 2000 election; incumbent Robert Foster lost to Sellers and Tate in 1998 and incumbents John Varela and Joe Martucci lost in 1996 to Chang and Cook.
Sellers said he was also heartened by the number of women taking a chance on a council position.
“We have such a great tradition of people like Hedy, Cynthia and Jan Smith (the late former mayor and councilwoman),” Sellers said. “When we discuss important issues it is critical to have all voices represented.”
Torrez said she would be filing to run again as city clerk and City Treasurer Mike Roorda has turned in his paperwork. No one else has indicated an interest in those two elected, four-year positions.
Anyone considering a run for a council seat can pick up information from City Clerk Irma Torrez, 779-7259, from the Registrar of Voters or online at www.sccvote.org/ There is no cost for filing a ballot statement for council because the City Council voted earlier this year to have the city pick up the cost, saving each candidate roughly $1,400.
Carol Holzgrafe covers City Hall for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at ch********@*************es.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 Ext. 201.
