Name in the hat

Loretta Torres, a self-employed farmer, conservative letter-writer and fixture at local government meetings, is running for Chico City Council, according to campaign documents filed with the City Clerk’s Office.

Aside from incumbent candidates Vice Mayor Sean Morgan and Councilman Randall Stone, Torres is the first candidate to emerge ahead of the November general election. The seats currently occupied by Councilwomen Ann Schwab and Tami Ritter are also up for grabs, though neither has yet announced a bid for re-election.

Torres (pictured) also ran for council in 2014, although she withdrew from the race after just a few days. She backed out because of a logjam of conservative candidates, including current Councilwoman Reanette Fillmer, whom she considered more qualified, she told the CN&R.