Election turning into three-ring circus Election turning into three-ring circus (July 16, 2003)

Bartender, Stanford Provost expected to be candidates

by Bill D'Agostino

Although Palo Alto's election season only officially began this week, the City Council race is already shaping up to be a political circus, with everyone from a Stanford provost to a local bartender on the bill.

In the center ring, controversial Councilwoman Nancy Lytle announced she was running on Monday, but walked on a tight rope as she described her reason for seeking re-election.

"There's going to be another candidate coming forward that I think will balance the current council composition," Lytle explained, not wanting to name any names. However, the mystery candidate is presumed by many to be former Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell.

Cordell, currently Stanford University's vice provost for Campus Relations, was expected to announce her candidacy on Tuesday. If she did, Cordell would be the fourth candidate to decide to run against the four incumbents: Lytle, Councilwoman Judy Kleinberg, Mayor Dena Mossar and Vice Mayor Bern Beecham.

Cordell would also be the highest ranking Stanford official ever to run for City Council.

As for Lytle, her announcement came after much community speculation, since the councilwoman has been the center of a number of political storms in recent years.

"I certainly have been a lightning rod," she said. "That has not been an easy role but it's a necessary role. I'll continue to assert positions where I think the Queen Mary needs to turn around."

The political rumor mill has been wild with speculation that Lytle and Cordell will be running partners, a claim that Lytle denied.

"I don't like slate politics," she said. "I like it when people run smart, independent campaigns."

Candidates could begin pulling nomination papers on Monday morning, and they have until Aug. 8 to fill them out, write a candidate statement and gather at least 25 signatures of Palo Alto residents.

"It's to their advantage" to pull papers sooner rather than later, said City Clerk Donna Rogers, the ringmaster for the city's elections.

The other announced candidates so far are attorney Harold "Skip" Justman and Victor Frost, a homeless man, and Rose and Crown bartender Scott Healy.

"I have no political experience whatsoever," said Healy, 31, who decided to run after the council was nationally criticized for proposed behavior guidelines.

Another potential candidate, resident Martin Stone, said he's "seriously considering" running but wondered if he was better suited for the soon-to-be vacant city attorney's job. City Attorney Ariel Calonne will leave for Boulder, Colo. in September.

"There's certainly merit for being a City Council person, but I wonder if I couldn't make a more and better difference as the city attorney," said Stone, a frequent council critic who has fought against a proposal to revamp the Albertson's on Alma Street. "The question is where would I have the greatest impact."

Although he is not a member of the California State Bar, Stone noted that "Ariel is not yet a member of the Colorado state bar."

Also on Palo Alto voters' ballots in November will be a decision about a housing project on 800 High St. That will likely impact the council race, as issues surrounding development -- whether the city should allow new, larger buildings to be constructed, and how big they should be -- rise to the forefront.

The city's dwindling budget is also expected to be a major campaign issue. That could be potential trouble for the incumbents, who typically have a leg up in local campaigns since they have instant name recognition.

E-mail Bill D'Agostino at bdagostino@paweekly.com