Large Field Drawn to Wide-Open Council Race : Elections: The number of hopefuls has doubled in a week. The filing deadline for 11 municipal positions is Jan. 28.

With announcements by two more City Council incumbents that they will not seek reelection--leaving three seats open--candidates are coming out of the woodwork for the April 6 municipal election.

As of Wednesday, 28 candidates had applied for nomination to the ballot. A total of 11 positions for the council, school board, community college district, city clerk and city treasurer will be contested.

Councilwoman Ginger Bremberg, 67, said 12 years in city government is enough. She said that after three terms, she no longer feels in step with the council’s direction, which includes promoting businesses, home mortgages and what she calls other “social services.”

Councilman Richard E. (Dick) Jutras, 53, is calling it quits after one four-year term. He said the demands of public office have taken a toll on his health and his two printing businesses.

Mayor Carl Raggio, 64, a veteran of two terms, was the first to announce retirement. In October, he said he had decided to pursue other interests, including sculpting.

The exit of three incumbents at one time marks one of the few points in Glendale history that the five-member council will be dominated by newcomers. Larry Zarian, a 10-year member, and Eileen Givens, elected two years ago, remain.

The upcoming election may also signal a change in the way the city conducts business. For the past decade, the council has been dominated by members who devoted their lives full time to city matters.

Bremberg and others keep regular hours at City Hall when not participating in various committees, commissions and a myriad of other official functions.

Of recent council members, only Jutras has remained in private employment. Zarian, Raggio and former Councilman Jerold Milner all retired from regular careers while serving on the council.

*

The sudden emergence of a wide-open council race has enticed an unusually large number of candidates. Seven hopefuls announced that they were in the running before nominations opened last Thursday. That number has since doubled, and more could jump in before the Jan. 28 filing deadline.

David E. Wallis Jr., 56, an electrical engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge, is among the latest entries. He said he decided Monday to seek election after learning about the open seats.

One announced candidate, banking executive Gerald D. Barrone, 61, has already withdrawn. Backed by a number of business and political leaders, Barrone was considered a front-runner. He cited personal reasons for his decision but declined to elaborate.

To qualify, all candidates must submit valid signatures of at least 500 registered Glendale voters.

Bob Yousefian, 36, a building contractor, was the first to return his nomination papers to the city clerk. Early Monday, he submitted signatures of about 1,000 voters endorsing his candidacy, thus ensuring a place on the ballot.

Others who have taken out nomination papers for the City Council are John K. Beach, 47, a semi-retired computer programmer; Linda Benjamin, who left no phone number with the city clerk’s office; DeWitt Jon Clinton, 36, an unemployed actor; John Krikorian, 60, a magazine publisher; Jerrol LeBaron, 29, a jewelry company owner, and Stuart L. Lovi, 26, a financial services assistant manager.

Still other council candidates are Richard N. Matthews, former vice president of communications for Carnation Co.; Mary Ann Plumley, 62, a real estate broker; Richard M. Reyes, 55, community relations coordinator for the city; Bob Torres, 37, a real estate consultant, and David G. Weaver, 53, a civil engineer.

Jane M. Whitaker, 63, is the only incumbent seeking reelection to the board of trustees of the Glendale Unified School District.

Other candidates competing for the three open seats are Jeanne Bentley, a former counselor at Crescenta Valley High School; Deborah Dentler, a Glendale College professor; Louise Foote, who could not be reached; John A. Forthmann IV, 57, principal of Adams Middle School in Redondo Beach; Sid Jurman, 42, an educator; Carol S. Melton, 46, marketing business owner, and Lynda Rocamora, 43, a community volunteer.

Three trustees of Glendale Community College are seeking reelection--Philip C. Kazajian, 47, an attorney; Kenneth Sweetnam, 67, a retired university administrator, and Ted W. Tiffany, 57, a Glendale principal.

The sole challenger thus far is Mark MacCarley, 40, an attorney specializing in real property.

City Clerk Aileen B. Boyle and Treasurer Elizabeth W. Evans are unopposed so far.