August 15, 2002

Mix of old and new faces vying for council seats

By DAN WHITE and KAREN DAVIS
Sentinel staff writer

SANTA CRUZ — In Santa Cruz, 12 candidates are vying for three seats on the City Council, while two people filed for one seat open on the Watsonville City Council.

The seats of three incumbents will be in play in November: Mayor Christopher Krohn, Keith Sugar and Tim Fitzmaurice. Of those three, only Fitzmaurice decided to run for another term. Krohn and Sugar declined to run, citing family commitments.

Two former council members and mayors, Cynthia Mathews and Mike Rotkin, are running. But one of their challengers, Aldo Giacchino, went on the offensive early in the campaign with his charge that Mathews and Rotkin aren’t qualified to run in the upcoming election on the grounds that "no former council member is eligible for re-election for a period of two years after the (end) of the second consecutive full term for which that person was elected."

Giacchino made this charge based on the last sentence of the city’s charter. But the city is questioning the accuracy of his claim.

"I have referred Mr. Giacchino’s letter to the city attorney who, at this time, has informed me that Mr. Giacchino is incorrect," said city clerk Leslie Cook.

The city attorney’s office is preparing a memo about the situation.

Giacchino said Wednesday that he stands by his assertions. The self-employed management consultant said the city charter "seems clear" on this matter.

Other candidates are Karen Woblesky, Dave Eselius, Jeromy McMillan, Thomas Leavitt, Steve Argue, Phil Baer, Greg Lopez and Connie Thomasser.

In Watsonville two residents — Antonio Rivas and Ron Swank — filed to run for the Third District seat on the City Council being vacated by Chuck Carter.

Citing the desire to spend more time with family, former Mayor Carter announced in June he would not seek re-election after completing one term on the council.

Contact Karen A. Davis at kdavis@santa-cruz.com.

Contact Dan White at dwhite@santa-cruz.com.