11 Signal Intent to Run for Garden Grove Posts

The race for mayor appears to be a two-way battle, but the field could expand if Mayor Frank Kessler decides not to seek reelection.

Councilman Bruce A. Broadwater and Al Snook took out nomination forms last week for the two-year mayor’s term that will be at stake in the Nov. 8 election, according to City Clerk Carolyn Morris.

Nine other prospective candidates have taken out nomination forms in what could be a crowded contest for the two open seats in the City Council, Morris said. Among those are incumbents Mark Leyes and Robert F. Dinsen, she said.

Broadwater, who was elected to the council in 1992, said that he decided to run for mayor to provide council leadership, which he says is lacking under Kessler.

“Someone has to pull us together,” said Broadwater, 55, who announced his candidacy at a news conference. “I believe I’m that man.”

Kessler, 65, a former Garden Grove police chief, said his colleagues on the council are not being cooperative, which erodes his mayoral powers.

“They have emasculated the job of mayor to where it is meaningless,” Kessler said. He has complained in the past about being unable to make such routine decisions as appointing people to county agencies without council approval.

“I’m just batting my head against the wall,” said Kessler, who was elected mayor in 1992 after four years on the council.

If Kessler decides not to run, the deadline for filing candidacy for mayor will be extended to Aug. 17, according to Morris. The deadline for council candidates is Aug. 12, she said.

Broadwater said he expects more candidates for mayor if Kessler does not seek reelection.

Jeff Robinson, Richard Rahder, Tony Ingegneri, Fortunato Mabutas, Pam Harris, Kim Ha and Frank Hoffman also took out papers for the council race, Morris said.

Leyes, 36, was the top vote-getter among the council candidates in 1990 when he ran for the first time. Dinsen, 77, is seeking his fourth full-year term. He has been on the council since his appointment in 1980.