LOS ALAMITOS : 3 Take Out Papers to Run for Council

A local postal worker who ran unsuccessfully for City Council 14 years ago and a retired engineer who opposed the city’s redevelopment plan have taken out the necessary forms to run for the council in November.

William J. Umbel and William Daniels, who filed a lawsuit in 1991 against the city to force voter approval of a proposed redevelopment plan, are the only non-incumbents so far to indicate interest in a council seat. The seats are currently held by Mayor Ronald Bates and Councilman Charles E. Sylvia.

Sylvia has taken out the necessary papers to run again. Bates, however, said he is still undecided.

Umbel, a 25-year resident of the city, said he has been dissatisfied with the current council’s decisions and feels there is a need for fresh faces and ideas.

“Basically, the five seated there don’t vote the way I like,” Umbel said. “I think everything needs a new look.”

Umbel, unlike Daniels, said he is not opposed to the idea of redevelopment--a contentious issue that resulted in voter rejection of a proposed redevelopment plan in June. Umbel said, however, that he does not want the current council to oversee the project.

In his last bid for office in 1978, Umbel finished fifth in a field of 11 candidates.

“Winning is not all that important to me,” he said. “What’s important is people taking a different attitude.”

Bates, a part-time consultant for the city of Anaheim, said he has enjoyed working with the “good people” on the council and in City Hall and tackling tough issues such as redevelopment. He said, however, that serving on the council is a major personal commitment.

“It’s a large commitment of time and energy . . . and on the other side are family commitments,” he said.

Candidates have until the middle of August to file the necessary papers.