IRVINE : Filing Deadline for Election Extended

Residents interested in making a last-minute decision to run for mayor or for one of two open City Council seats have another chance.

With two incumbents not filing for reelection Friday, the deadline for submitting nomination papers for the November election has been extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday.

When an incumbent doesn’t run, the filing deadline for that seat is automatically extended five days to give newcomers a last chance to decide to run. Incumbents are not allowed to file during the extension period.

Filing to run for mayor as of Friday were former Irvine Unified School District board member Helen T. Cameron, 46; Irvine Tomorrow member Marc Goldstone, 36; retired attorney Albert E. Nasser, 74, and Leslie Racey, 65.

Another likely candidate for mayor is Councilman Barry J. Hammond, who had formed a campaign committee but said this week he was undecided on whether to run for mayor.

Hammond still has two years on his City Council seat, which he would not have to give up unless he wins the mayoral election.

Mayor Sally Anne Sheridan did not file for reelection. Sheridan, who served eight years on the council and then two years as mayor, had said months ago that she had no plans to seek another term and did not take out nomination papers. As an incumbent, Friday was her deadline to file.

Councilwoman Paula Werner, 44, is the only incumbent to seek reelection. Councilman Bill Vardoulis, whose term expires this November, did not take out papers to run for reelection. He did take out nominating papers to run for mayor, which he may return by Wednesday if he decides to run.

Besides Werner, filing for the two council seats as of Friday were: John Boardman, 42, an engineer; George A. Gallaher, a civil engineer; Christina Shea, 42, chairwoman of the city Community Services Commission; Philip Bui, 18, a biology student at UC Irvine; Christopher B. Mears, 40, an attorney, and Dale Peterson, 27.