ANAHEIM : Daly Announces Bid for Reelection

Mayor Tom Daly officially kicked off his reelection campaign Wednesday in front of more than two dozen supporters at City Hall.

Daly, a 40-year-old executive for the Building Industry Assn., a builders trade group, was first elected mayor in 1992 when he upset two-term Mayor Fred Hunter.

During a brief speech on City Hall steps, Daly pointed to what he considers some of the city’s biggest successes during his term as mayor: the transformation of Anaheim Plaza, the non-renewal of a city utility tax and a balanced city budget with a healthy reserve.

“I’m running for reelection to continue pushing hard for economic progress and renewal, for youth programs, to create more jobs, to renew and strengthen residential neighborhoods and to beautify our city,” said Daly, a lifelong resident.

“At the same time, I intend to streamline and improve city government so it can work better and cost less,” he added.

Three council seats are open this year but only two will be up for election in November because of a charter amendment passed in 1992 that changed the mayoral selection process.

In the past, one of the council members was selected by the voters to be mayor. But beginning this year, someone running for mayor need not be a council member to run for office.

If Daly were to lose the mayoral race, he would retain his council seat for two more years and that would eliminate one of the open seats.

If he is reelected and a third seat remains open, the City Council will have 60 days to appoint someone to the post. If they fail to do so, then the city must hold a special election, according to the city clerk’s office.