In The News
Rios to leave Council
Friday August 08, 2008
By TODD GUILD
Oscar Rios, who has served on the City Council for more than 15 years, surprised the community Wednesday when he announced that he will not seek his seat on District 2.
Rios, who also represents 1,000 workers for the Teamsters local 890, said his workload has became too large and he couldn't dedicate the time he wanted to the City Council.
"I'm already running crazy," he said.
Rios threw his support behind Alejo.
"Luis has proven all these years that he's been there," Rios said. "He's been out there fighting the issues that affect the city."
Rios pointed to a proposed incinerator at the Buena Vista Landfill, of which Alejo has been a vocal critic.
Rios said he will continue to attend City Council meetings, express his opinion and "continue to make Watsonville a better place."
"I really like being a City Councilmember," he said. "I'm happy with what I've done, and at the same time I'm sad about leaving. It was not an easy decision."
If Joe Ortiz, who took out papers to run for Rios' seat July 22, doesn't officially file the paperwork, Alejo will run uncontested.
Alejo, a community activist and attorney, filed his papers to run Aug. 4.
As of Thursday afternoon, four candidates for City Council had filed their papers, but it's not unusual for candidates to file at the last minute, Watsonville City Clerk Lorraine Washington said. The deadline to file paperwork is today at 5 p.m.
Edward Din, who has served for District 6 on the City Council since 2006, filed his papers on Aug. 1, the first of the incumbent candidates to do so. He could face Emilio Martinez, a city planning commissioner.
On Aug. 1, Gabriel Gonzales declared his intention to run against Manuel Bersámin for the district 1 seat. He also ran unsuccessfully against Bersámin in 2004. As of Thursday afternoon, Gonzalez had not yet officially filed his papers with the city.
Bersámin, who represents District 1, filed his papers on Aug. 5. Watsonville resident Joe Ortiz got his papers on July 22 to run against Alejo for district 2.Tony Gomez, who ran against Din in 2006, has pulled nominating papers for District 6.
District 1 is the district west of Main Street reaching to the Pajaro River, a largely industrial area of Watsonville. District 2 is located east of Main Street and includes Watsonville High School. District 6 is in northern Watsonville and includes the Atkinson area.