Clearlake >> “I haven”t felt that nervous in years,” Bruno Sabatier said from his home Wednesday afternoon, the day following his election to the Clearlake City Council. Sabatier captured the top vote spot to win his place as a Councilmember, garnering 837 votes or 25.7 percent. Russell Perdock also earned a spot on the council, with 20.4 percent, unseating incumbent Joey Luiz, who polled 569 votes (17.5 percent).
There were seven candidates vying for two seats.
“I was so nervous on November 4th, I couldn”t stay home, so I went out with my signs and walked and waved them at all the people driving by,” Sabatier recalled. “At 7 p.m. I was exhausted.”
In fact, Sabatier fell asleep at his house waiting for the results. It was the morning of Nov. 5 when he saw his name at the top of the Clearlake election results List issued by Diane Friedly at the Registrar of Voters Office in Lakeport.
“I still can”t believe it”, Sabatier said.
The Lake County Democrats endorsed Sabatier, along with Jeri Spittler, Candidate for Supervisor of District 2 and Sorhna Li Jordan running for Lake County Assessor-Recorder. Both women were not able to capture the offices they sought.
Sabatier said he was “very happy to see” that Russell Perdock took the second vacancy in the chamber. Although the two men did not know each other before the election they grew to like and respect each other.
“Russ has deep roots here,” Sabatier explained. “We have an open communication and he”s got good ideas. We may not agree on every approach to achieve goals but we both agree on the end results.”
Their goals, according to Sabatier, are similar in nature.
“Number one is safety,” he said. “Families should be able to go out, enjoy nature and not be worried.”
He also listed economic development and beautification as priorities.
Sabatier was on his way to meet Perdock for a sit down and discuss how they might bring about the changes they seek. They will be sworn in on Dec. 11 and take their seats in January. According to Sabatier, the two new councilmembers hope to have a plan of action by then, steering the governing body toward attracting business and improving quality of life.
Perdock did not respond to messages seeking his reaction.
