Claude Ezran, an early entrant to Palo Alto's suddenly crowded City Council race, said Tuesday that he has decided not to run.
Ezran, a former member of the city's Human Relations Commission and the founder of the city's World Music Day, was the first non-incumbent to declare his entry into the race for five contested seats. Since then, eight other candidates have jumped into the race, joining three incumbents: Mayor Nancy Shepherd, Greg Scharff and Karen Holman. Though Holman has yet to formally declare her candidacy, she has already filed a statement of intention to seek another term and has formed an election committee. Shepherd and Scharff have both said they will seek a second term.
The other two council members whose terms will expire this year are Larry Klein, who is termed out, and Gail Price, who has opted not to run for a second term.
In an email, Ezran cited the "new competitive landscape" as his reason for not running. In addition to the three incumbents, the November ballot will also include three candidates closely aligned with last year's successful Measure D referendum: Eric Filseth, Tom DuBois and Lydia Kou.
Ezran determined that running against three incumbents, "with the abundance of campaign volunteers, funding, endorsements, and support that incumbency usually provides" and against candidates linked with the Measure D defeat would have been "a close to impossible task for an independent candidate like myself."
While Ezran dropped out of the race, resident Wayne Douglass has jumped in, keeping the total number of candidates at 12. Douglass, who lives in the Ventura neighborhood, pulled papers for candidacy Tuesday, City Clerk Donna Grider said.
Other residents who have pulled candidacy papers and are considering a council run are retired Gunn High School teacher John Fredrich, panhandler Victor Frost, retired Boeing engineer Seelam Reddy, concert producer Mark Weiss and downtown resident Richard Wendorf.
Candidates have until Aug. 8 to file their paperwork, though there is a five-day extension for races where incumbents don't file.
Comments
Barron Park
on Jul 30, 2014 at 8:16 am
on Jul 30, 2014 at 8:16 am
I am sorry to hear this...all the best to Claude.
Green Acres
on Jul 30, 2014 at 10:26 am
on Jul 30, 2014 at 10:26 am
Claude,
Much appreciation for all you do as a citizen here!
Old Palo Alto
on Jul 30, 2014 at 11:52 am
on Jul 30, 2014 at 11:52 am
This is the time to get rid of ALL the incumbents … A clean
slate for a new and better Palo Alto.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jul 30, 2014 at 12:19 pm
on Jul 30, 2014 at 12:19 pm
Old PAlo Alto
"This is the time to get rid of ALL the incumbents … A clean
slate for a new and better Palo Alto."
I like Karen Holman, and I don't think she falls into the category with Scharff and Sheperd who are Exhibit A of the "the building itself is a public benefit" school of thought (no thought).
I wonder Mr. Ezran, if your competition will come from the incumbents. Scharff and Sheperd certainly seem to be linked to a "power group" in Palo Alto, but this time around I hope the issues will be scrutinized and people won't be so disengaged to hilly nilly vote for their power circle. Too much is at stake.
Greene Middle School
on Jul 30, 2014 at 3:38 pm
on Jul 30, 2014 at 3:38 pm
"pulled candidacy papers" is an awkward, confusing, and unnecessary statement. I first thought those people were withdrawing.
Midtown
on Jul 30, 2014 at 5:19 pm
on Jul 30, 2014 at 5:19 pm
Old Palo Alto-- I suggest you start a recall drive to,get rid,of the whole council.
Is the weekly waitng for,Holman to announce her candidacy before they investigate her recent financial statements-- especially regarding her 2013 document. She filed the statement saying she took in $10-100k in finders fees, then she said she she got nothing. Was the form submitted under oath? Will the weekly look into it? Does the weekly care?
Apparently there is some by invitation only party today involving Holman, Dubois and filseth. Are they running as a slate? One wonder if they know what the brown act is ( does not apply now, since they are not yet in the council, but makes you wonder what will happen if they are all elected). Was the weekly invited to this meeting? These are the kind of candidates the weekly loves-- not candidates that do not spend money like ezran, Weiss, frost etc.
Palo Alto Hills
on Jul 31, 2014 at 4:51 am
on Jul 31, 2014 at 4:51 am
[Post removed.]
College Terrace
on Jul 31, 2014 at 6:17 am
on Jul 31, 2014 at 6:17 am
Hi Claude
Hang in there. Please flow your ideas to us all and the community to make a difference and to make Palo Alto ten times better than last four years.
Respectfully
Barron Park
on Jul 31, 2014 at 10:02 am
on Jul 31, 2014 at 10:02 am
I am delighted to see such interest in running for the City Council. I hope we can experience a number of neighborhood meetings, debates and candidate forums to fully vet all the candidates on the issues. Much is at stake in this election. Please Palo Altans pay attention, weigh in, and by all means vote.
Midtown
on Aug 2, 2014 at 12:57 am
on Aug 2, 2014 at 12:57 am
Every incumbent who is running needs to be voted out. Remember their fiasco with 27 University. So much hidden behind the scenes. The Grand Jury and the Weekly brought the truth to the public.