Denise Rockenstein — Staff reporter
CLEARLAKE — Three seats on the Clearlake City Council are up for election on November ballot and one incumbent and eight newcomers have filed papers for candidacy in the council race, according to Clearlake City Clerk Melissa Swanson.
The filing period for candidacy closed Aug. 15.
Councilwoman Joyce Overton will seek re-election. “I think our city is at point where institutional knowledge is a vital asset to our council. Retaining that knowledge on the council will allow our city to continue to move forward with the goals we already have in place,” Overton said. “My constituents have encouraged me to seek re-election and I hope I am given the opportunity to continue to represent them.”
Additional candidates include Bunnie Carter, owner of Tatonka Trading; Gina Fortino-Dickson, city planning commissioner; Charles O”Neill-Jones, retired facilities manager; Denise Loustalot, owner of Enterprise Towing and Automotive; Bruno Sabatier, data maintenance programmer and founder of “Power to the Youth” community event/organization; Alvaro Valencia, owner of A&B Collision; and Melinda Young, owner of The Art House Gallery.
Michael J. Walton also took out candidate papers. His candidacy is pending signature verification, according to Swanson.
Carter said she would like to stimulate the business community. “I want to see my city come back to life,” she said. “As a council member I think I can be instrumental in bringing more businesses to our city and can encourage those business owners to take a vested interest in our community.”
Fortino-Dickson said she is running because she wants to better the community in which she was raised and is now raising her own children.
“I want my efforts for positive change to benefit my hometown,” she said. “As a planning commissioner, I have been given the opportunity to affect positive change. I think as a member of the Clearlake City Council that opportunity will be greater.”
Sabatier said healthy communities begin with providing for the youth. “When I am elected as a city council member in November, I will act today to ensure the future is bright for all who reside within the city of Clearlake. By helping our youth succeed in their future, we will also create a better future for our community,” he said.
Young said she is running because she wants to see the city”s conditions and reputation improve.
“Unfortunately, our city has a stigma attached to its name and I would like to see that change,” she said. “Because of the lack of funds available in our city, positive progression is going to require some innovative thinking, fresh ideas and hard work. I am up for that challenge.”
Valencia said he is focused on business and youth. “I want to help small businesses and I think seat on council will allow me to do that. I also want to see the youth in our community succeed and as a member of the council I think I could better orchestrate that,” he said.
O”Neill-Jones said he thinks he has the qualities needed to progress the city in areas that he said have been neglected or set-aside in the past. “I decided to run because I”ve been involved in the sound planning of the invasive species program as a representative of the city of Clearlake,” he said. “I would like see the restructuring of a management program that will aid the city in its development of small businesses and the loss of tourist attractions. I would also like to see the city”s road conditions improved.”
Loustalot said, “I am running for city council because of my passion and love for the city as well as our community as a whole. I am third-generation business owner here and want to strengthen our economic climate and our city.”
