Unless potential candidates file, Council, Clerk races to be non-starters
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: August 13, 2008
Unless potential candidates get busy, the race for two City Council seats and the City Clerk position will be non-starters.
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
Unless potential candidates get busy, the race for two City Council seats and the City Clerk position will be non-starters. As of Monday’s press deadline no additional new candidates have stepped forward to file for the Council and City Clerk races, which have extended deadlines due to incumbents failing to file.
Incumbent City Treasurer Sandra “Sandy” Easley filed for her third term of office, but there are no challengers. The filing deadline for the office was Friday at 5 p.m.
Although there are two City Council seats up for grabs - neither Ray Luna nor John Procter opted to run for third Council terms - only two candidates, ARC Executive Director Fred Robinson and insurance agency owner Jim Tovias - have filed the nomination paperwork. Procter took out nomination papers, but later said he would not seek another Council term.
City Clerk Josie Herrera, the City of Ventura Senior Deputy Clerk, also stated she would not run for what would have been her second term. Judy Rice has filed for the City Clerk post.
Filing for the two open City Council seats and the City Clerk’s post is now extended until Wednesday, August 13 at 5 p.m. If no other candidates for Council step forward it could be the first time ever - or in a very, very long time - that candidates just assumed office without campaign competition.
Former Santa Paula City Councilman and Mayor Carl Barringer, a Santa Paula resident since 1948, said “No,” when asked if he remembers a like situation. “There was always a Council race” at election time, Barringer, who served on the Council from 1982 to 1990, said Monday.
Two years ago the Council race for three seats brought out eight candidates interested in government service. Incumbent City Councilman Dr. Gabino Aguirre and first time candidates Bob Gonzales and Ralph Fernandez won the election.
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