Chuck Leonard and Roy Simons both have told Lake County News that they will not run again for the seats they've held on the council since 2006.
Last Thursday, the council voted to call the Nov. 2 election for the two seats in an item which was listed on its consent agenda.
Simons, 84, has suffered from ill health recently, and was hospitalized last week after reporting pains in his side, Mayor Judy Thein said.
He was scheduled to undergo surgery on Sunday but in a message to council members on Monday, City Clerk Melissa Swanson reported that she had spoken to Simons' wife, and he had been discharged from the hospital and is back at home. Simons' doctor reportedly felt surgery was too risky.
Leonard, 72, said he wants to travel with his wife, Vicki. His work as a council member is just about a full-time job, and he said he doesn't feel he can wait to get out and do what he wants to do.
Previous to serving on the council Leonard spent two years on the city's planning commission. He also worked as a volunteer code enforcement officer.
With the city voting to eliminate code enforcement staff due to budget cuts, Leonard said he's already had city staff asking if he would consider coming back and volunteering for more code enforcement duty.
Leonard has presided during a difficult time on the council, which has been faced with massive budget cuts and staff layoffs.
He's also cast supporting votes for the Provinsalia housing development and the Lowe's home improvement center, both projects that spurred passionate debate in the community. Similarly, the council now is facing the decision of whether to extend redevelopment.
Leonard said he has enjoyed his time on the council, and wasn't phased by having to make hard decisions.
“The things I didn't like doing were letting all the staff go,” he said.
One issue he's still concerned about is how the city will zone medical marijuana establishments. He said he believes the drug is legitimate medicine, and he doesn't want to see dispensaries and collectives moved out to remote parts of the city limits, because it would make access more difficult for patients.
During the past year, Leonard has come under fire for standing silent during the pledge of allegiance.
When businesswoman Jeri Spittler criticized him for not taking part in the salute during a January meeting, he explained, “My problem is not saying the pledge of allegiance – I can do that.”
Rather, he said he didn't believe in god and that to say the pledge – which includes the words “under God” – would be to sell out.
“My loyalty to this country is not in question,” said Leonard at the time, noting he served in the Naval Reserves.
As for possible successors to Simons and Leonard, Spittler has indicated that she'll run.
Spittler, 56, has consistently attended council meetings over the past year. She owns Girlfriends salon in Clearlake and recently led a cleanup project at the old Austin Resort.
Another potential candidate is local businessman Joey Luiz, 28, a Clear Lake Chamber Board member and past president.
Prior to his moving into the city, Luiz – formerly a Lower Lake resident – made an unsuccessful bid in 2008 for the District 1 supervisorial seat later won by Jim Comstock.
A past candidate who won't be seeking a seat this year is Aqeela El-Amin Bakheit, who ran in 2006 in the same field as Simons and Leonard.
Bakheit, president of the local NAACP branch, told Lake County News that graduate school, particularly finishing up her master's degree, is keeping her very busy these days.
“Right now my plate is pretty full,” she said.
City Clerk Melissa Swanson said the filing period for candidates begins on July 12 and ends Aug. 6.
If an incumbent chooses not to run again, then the filing period for that office is extended to Aug. 11, Swanson said.
To take out nomination papers, potential candidates should schedule an appointment with Swanson, whose office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
She said the process of completing the paperwork takes about an hour. Swanson goes over the election process in detail with the potential candidate.
To contact Swanson call her at 707-994-8201, Extension 106, or e-mail
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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