The filing period for the seats closed on Wednesday at 5 p.m., according to City Clerk Janel Chapman. The deadline had been extended from Aug. 6 after Councilman Ron Bertsch decided not to seek reelection.
In all, seven city residents have taken out nomination papers to serve on the council, Chapman said.
In the race are retired police chief Tom Engstrom; current mayor and construction contractor Jim Irwin; businessman and former councilman Ted Mandrones; Realtor Stacey Mattina, who has served on the city's Measure I Committee; Marc Spillman, a current city planning commissioner; and George Spurr, a computer programmer and analyst for the county, Chapman reported.
All of those candidates have qualified and the signatures they have gathered have been verified, according to Chapman.
On Wednesday, a seventh individual took out papers to joint the race.
Paul Racine, who manages his father's business, Paul Racine Distributor of Lakeport, filled out nomination papers and submitted signatures, Chapman said.
As of Wednesday, Racine's signatures hadn't been verified, which Chapman anticipated completing on Thursday.
Racine, 35, who has a business degree, said running for the council is “something that's been in the back of my mind for quite awhile.”
He's lived all of his life in the county – with the exception of time away for college – and most of his time in Lake County has been as a Lakeport resident.
Racine said he's particularly interested in fiscal accountability, especially during the tough economic times.
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