SAN CLEMENTE : Candidate Re-Enters City Council Race

With only days left before the Nov. 3 election, longtime resident Jay Durkin has announced that he is officially back in the race for one of two open City Council seats.

The announcement comes as the remaining six candidates continue to wage a relatively low-key campaign marked by a lack of spending on the part of many in the race.

Durkin, a supporter of term limits, dropped out of the race about two weeks ago, citing a lack of campaign funds. In recent days, Durkin said, he changed his mind when supporters urged him to get back into the race.

Although Durkin, 56, had taken himself out of the running, his name was never taken off the ballot.

Durkin and candidate Daniel R. Huard filed documents stating that they do not intend to raise or spend more than $1,000 at this time.

Candidate Glenn Edward Roy, who filed a similar document earlier in the campaign, failed to file a new statement as of the end of business hours Friday, according to the city clerk’s office.

Candidate David T. Leland has loaned himself $1,500 for the election, according to documents he filed.

Incumbents Candace Haggard, who is seeking her second four-year term, and Scott Diehl, who is seeking his third term, continue to lead the group in terms of contributions collected.

Haggard raised $1,167 between Oct. 1 and 17, bringing her total fund-raising efforts this year to about $6,600.

Except for one $300 contribution from a retired San Clemente resident, all of Haggard’s contributions have been $100 or less.

During the same period this month, Diehl raised $2,487, bringing his total to $3,855 so far this year.

Candidate Mark Blencowe raised $940 during the recent filing period, bringing his total to about $2,100. About $1,400 of that has come from his own pocket.

In the race for city clerk, both incumbent Myrna Erway and challenger John Koch have filed documents saying that they do not intend to raise or spend more than $1,000 in the election.