Election?
Forget the City Council election in Isleton.
One incumbent and one would-be campaigner will be able to skip the whole balloting business in November and become officeholders outright starting in December.
Turns out incumbent Elizabeth Samano, appointed 20 months ago to finish a four-year term, did not file papers to run for the office by an Aug. 8 election deadline.
That left incumbent Councilman Christopher Stokes, who is seeking a second four-year term, and Mark Bettencourt, a volunteer firefighter for the Isleton Fire Department, as electees.
In short, only two candidates and only two open seats equal no Isleton election.
When Samano failed to file by the deadline, "that left the office open to anybody but the incumbent to file" no later than Aug. 13, explained Brad Buyse, campaign services manager for Sacramento County elections.
Buyse said Samano called him Aug. 11, "and we informed her at that time that she was unable to file for that office."
Samano, reached later that week, said she "really wasn't planning on running." But she said she had second thoughts after learning that no candidates had stepped forward who shared the "same perspective as the majority" of voters about "making the city run better."
"I was really hoping some other folks would step up and run," she said.
– Loretta Kalb
Leary setting the stage
Elk Grove City Council incumbent Michael Leary officially kicked off his re-election campaign last week, although he has yet to put up signs and his Web site is still under construction.
Although many council candidates are just starting to pump up their campaigns, it seems Leary is a little late out of the gate in relation to one of his challengers.
Steve Detrick has been running a full-throttle campaign for the District 3 seat for months now. Detrick says he's been working on his campaign for 40 to 60 hours a week since he "pulled the trigger" in April.
He and his crew of supporters, mostly members of the grassroots group EGCAPP, have been knocking on doors since July and last week posted 700 blue and white signs throughout town.
Detrick seems to make an appearance at almost every festival and local event and bombards media e-mail inboxes with photos and press releases to prove it.
So, Mike, what were you waiting for?
"My campaign manager said you can come out early and no one will remember you," Leary said Tuesday.
His campaign manager is former city public information officer Michelle Smira.
He says he'll save his energy for the end.
In the meantime, Leary says he hasn't been sitting around. He's had a few fundraisers, joined the Elk Grove Laguna Republicans, went to a chamber event, attended a recent meeting about the proposed intra-county highway and had some endorsement meetings.
Just setting the stage for his run, he says.
– Diana Lambert
Some of his signs are gone
Steve Detrick may have posted 700 signs around Elk Grove, but he's down to 650. Apparently someone took 50 signs down that had been posted along Elk Grove Boulevard.
The candidate says he checked with city code enforcement officers but was told they didn't take them.
Not to worry, Detrick has more signs and intends to keep sticking them in the ground.
– Diana Lambert
Scherman fundraiser set
Sophia Scherman says she's outraised her opponents in the District 5 race for Elk Grove City Council by $100,000. But the incumbent is still looking for donors.
Scherman is planning an Italian Food & Wine Extravaganza at McConnell Estate Winery from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. The event costs $45 per person, but she'll accept more, of course.
The winery is at 10686 West Stockton Blvd., if you're interested.
– Diana Lambert
