Conservatives Gain, but Liberals Still Hold Arcata Council

Conservatives seeking to end liberal control of this North Coast college town won two seats on the City Council, but their main target--the mayor--survived a nasty campaign and won reelection.

Overcoming charges that he had ignored Arcata’s basic needs to advance his own political beliefs, Mayor Victor Schaub outpolled all other candidates in Tuesday’s election. More than half of Arcata’s 9,922 registered voters turned out.

“In the face of a highly personal and mean-spirited campaign targeting me for defeat, I’m pleased voters have expressed confidence in my leadership,” said Schaub, a local attorney.

Two other incumbents--innkeeper Sam Pennisi and Elizabeth Lee--were not so lucky. They were toppled by Louis Blaser, a former timber manager, and Carl Pellatz, an insurance agent. Both victors were backed by conservatives fed up with their town’s image as a haven for liberal ideals.

Despite the victories by Blaser and Pellatz, liberals still hold a majority on the council.

The election came at the hieght of a bitter struggle that has divided this Humboldt County town since January, 1991, when the City Council declared Arcata a sanctuary for military deserters and others opposed to the Persian Gulf War.