LAKEPORT ? Lakeport Mayor Buzz Bruns announced he will not run for re-election in November, when three city council seats will go before voters. Bruns is finishing his second consecutive four-year term on the council, and his second one-year term as mayor.
“I”ve been there eight years, I”m 71 years old, and there”s a time when you let somebody else do it. It”s time to pass the torch,” Bruns said.
He made the decision approximately three weeks ago, when he told city council members and city manager Jerry Gillham privately. Bruns has not publicly announced his resignation until now.
“I have a lot of love for the city, and that”s the only reason I”m there. I”m not there for the power or the glory. I enjoyed seeing what”s been done, in the last four years especially. It”s time to get someone else in there ? different thoughts and ideas are always good,” Bruns said.
Bruns continued, “It”s been eight years of a learning and education process for me. I sat and listened, waited, and learned that government is not like a business ? if you want to run it that way, it can”t be done.”
Bruns said he intended to run for a council seat during a July 16 interview with the Record-Bee, but had not filed candidacy papers with the clerk yet. He said “legal technicalities” came up as part of a personal matter he did not want to discuss. Aside from plans to winter in Indio where he and his family own a condo, Bruns said he intends to stay in Lakeport.
Bruns” decision not to run for re-election meant the deadline to file as a candidate was extended to Wednesday, according to Lakeport City Clerk Janel Chapman. As of the close of business Wednesday, six candidates had filed, including incumbents Roy Parmentier and Robert Rumfelt. They will vie for the three open council seats with challengers Virginia “Ginger” Ingersoll, Suzanne Lyons, Marc Chalon Spillman and George Spurr.
Bruns said he endorses Spillman, who served from May 2004 to May 2008 as a Lakeport planning commissioner.
“I think he”s a good man for the job. He has a good background being a city planner on the planning commission, and he will make a good councilman,” Bruns said.
Bruns said he also endorses incumbents Parmentier and Rumfelt because “they have both proven good councilmen.”
Regarding the city”s financial woes, Bruns said, “It didn”t take us a year to get here, and it”s not going to take us a year to get out. The cost of doing business is greater than in the past ? the cost of insurance and fuel has gone up. Everything pertaining to running a city has gone up, but we don”t get more taxes so everything has to be run more efficiently, and I think you”re seeing that happen right now,” Bruns said.
Bruns” last meeting will be Dec. 2, when he will announce the new council members and then step down.
Bruns said he looks forward to having more time to spend with his two grandchildren in Windsor, a little travel and just plain enjoying life.
“I”m actually looking forward to not going to meetings anymore. I kind of got my belly full of meetings this year ? the budget process has been long and hard,” Bruns said.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com. To comment on this story or others, please visit www.record-bee.com.
