Update on council races

With a week to go until the filing deadline, there’s been no real change in the Chico City Council chase, but there’s plenty of intrigue in Oroville and suspense in Paradise.

Jim Walker and Cynthia Van Auken have been certified by the Butte County Registrar as candidates for Chico City Council, where four seats are up for grabs. Incumbents Andy Holcombe, Ann Schwab and Larry Wahl have declared their intent to run; Steve Bertagna still hadn’t stated his intention by the time the CN&R went to press Wednesday morning. Pending candidacies: Ali Sarsour, Mark Sorensen and Joe Valente.

In Oroville, all three councilmembers who’s terms are expiring—Jack Berry, Mike Howard and Jim Prouty—have taken nomination binders from the city clerk. Bill Coots and Planning Commissioner Thil Chan-Wilcox have filed forms, and this could be a nine-way race if Steve Harvey, Eugene Ludwig, Dane Nelson and Al J.R. Simpson do likewise.

Paradise Town Councilwoman Robin Huffman already said she’d wait until just before the Aug. 8 deadline to decide whether to seek re-election. Steve “Woody” Culleton already has—in fact, he’s the only candidate to file papers. Surprisingly, just 10 days before the due date, Mayor Alan White hadn’t even asked for paperwork despite declaring at the last council meeting that he’s running.