Wong Defies 2-Term Limit : Mayor Among 8 to File for 2 Council Seats in Cerritos

Mayor Daniel Wong is among eight candidates who have filed for the two City Council seats that will be open in April, when the terms of both Wong and Donald Knabe expire.

Knabe, who has been a councilman since 1980, says he is not seeking reelection because he will likely run for a state Senate seat. Wong, who first won a council seat in a special election in 1978, is seeking a third full term despite a City Charter amendment prohibiting council members from holding office more than two consecutive terms.

In a legal opinion that opened the door to Wong’s candidacy, the city attorney has said the hazily worded charter revision only applies to council terms that start after the amendment takes effect in April.

Because one of the incumbents is not running, the filing period for non-incumbents will be extended until 5 p.m. Tuesday. Wong and Knabe had to file their nomination papers with the city clerk by Feb. 4.

Wong’s challengers include political newcomers, previous candidates and Planning Commission members.

Alan D. Ulrich, a 38-year-old customer service agent for United Parcel Service, and Paul Bowlen, a 46-year-old civics teacher at Cerritos High School, both ran two years ago, finishing seventh and fifth, respectively.

Planning Commission members Sherman Kappe, 43, and Perry Barit, 49, are both launching their first council bids. Kappe manages his own apartments in La Mirada and Bellflower, and Barit runs his own architectural firm in Norwalk.

Although this is his maiden run for office in Cerritos, George Marsh, 61, was a Bellflower councilman from 1976 to 1984, when he moved to Cerritos. He is executive vice president of Union Development Co. Inc., a property management company.

Bernard Einson, 67, is an independent salesman of industrial tools and the husband of Leora Einson, one of a small group of community activists who spearheaded passage of the two-term charter restriction.

Political newcomer Faith Michaels Rizzotto, 38, owns a hair salon in La Palma.

Bowlen could not be reached, and Rizzotto declined comment, but the other council hopefuls all said they would not challenge Wong’s right to run for another term.