MISSION VIEJO : 2 Take Out Papers to Run for Council

Interest in two open City Council seats has been low so far as only two potential candidates have surfaced.

Planning Commissioners Sherri Butterfield and Joseph Lowe are the only residents who have taken out the necessary papers in nearly two weeks.

Meanwhile, incumbent Councilmen Robert A. Curtis and William S. Craycraft have not officially announced whether they intend to run for another four-year term. However, both men are expected to enter the Nov. 3 race.

Craycraft, who is on vacation until Sunday, said he will decide whether to run when he returns. Curtis could not be reached for comment.

The deadline for returning the applications to City Hall is Aug. 7. However, if either Curtis or Craycraft decides not to run for reelection, the deadline will be extended until Aug. 12.

Curtis, a political veteran, honed his campaign skills during a 1989 attempt to recall him. The next year, he helped raise money to elect Councilman Robert D. Breton and Mayor Sharon Cody.

However, Curtis’ campaign is expected to suffer due to the overwhelming defeat of his plans for construction of a new city hall. Voters rejected his proposal by a 3-1 margin in June. Curtis was the major architect of the project while Craycraft was a virulent foe of the proposed $18-million building.

Gary Manley, leader of the opponents on the city hall plan, has also expressed an interest in running for the council. The real estate agent has not yet made a final decision, citing concerns about how running for office would affect his work and personal life.