CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The filing period for three seats on the Clearlake City Council opened this week, with two of the incumbents reporting they will not seek reelection.
The seats for Judy Thein, Curt Giambruno and Joyce Overton will be on the ballot for Nov. 6.
Clearlake City Clerk Melissa Swanson said the filing period for the November council race opened on Monday, and will remain open until Friday, Aug. 10. However, if any incumbents choose not to run, that filing period extends to Wednesdsay, Aug. 15.
Two of the current council members whose seats will be up for election – Thein and Giambruno – already are indicating they will not seek new terms and will leave office in December.
Overton told Lake County News on Thursday that she’s still making a final decision about whether or not to seek reelection, adding that she’s leaning in the direction of running for a third term.
So far, one community member has announced his intention to step into the race.
Bruno Sabatier, a father of two who helped organize the “Power to the Youth” event in the city, said he will seek a seat.
“As a city council member, I will represent all of the residents of Clearlake, ensuring that our plan for the city benefits everyone,” he said in an announcement, which can be found here: http://bit.ly/MvUHRn .
Swanson said that as of Thursday Sabatier’s was the only filing to seek a council seat submitted to her office.
Thein announced earlier in the week that after two terms on the council – including several terms both as mayor and vice mayor – she will not run again.
“After nearly three decades of public service to the city of Clearlake, I will not be seeking reelection,” she wrote in a guest commentary published by Lake County News. “It is time to rest.”
Thein was first elected in 2004. During her time on the council, her daughter died in a crash as the result of a drunk driver, and Thein went on to found Team DUI, a group that works with young people to help them understand the dangers of drunk driving.
Thein’s commentary on her decision not to seek reelection can be found here: http://bit.ly/OBzhUC .
Giambruno told Lake County News this week that he’s “absolutely not running” again.
He’s served two and a half terms on the council, and at age 74 believes it’s time to let others step forward and lead. “It’s time that I call it quits.”
Giambruno added that his decision not to run wasn’t influenced by Thein’s similar conclusion, noting that he knew a long time ago she wouldn’t run again.
“There’s a lot of issues involved and I think I’ve probably done all I can do to help the city,” he said, explaining he had made his decision over the last few months.
In addition to his time on the council, Giambruno spent nine years on the Clearlake Planning Commission and also volunteered for 15 years with code enforcement.
It was his wife, Judie – who died four years ago – who encouraged Giambruno to run for office.
During his time on the council, the city has faced serious fiscal challenges and had to make decisions on controversial projects, including a regional shopping center and the Provinsalia housing project. Neither of the projects have been built.
“I don’t like politics, to be honest with you,” he said. “It’s a thankless job.”
Because of his status as a council member, Giambruno said he won’t be involved in campaigning for the one-cent sales tax to improve the city’s roads and code enforcement.
However, he said he feels the tax is needed, because the city needs to be cleaned up and improved.
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