FULLERTON : 4 Candidates Drop Out of Council Race, 3 Endorse Others

Voters take note: City Council candidates Leland C. Wilson, Bahia E. Wilson, Michael J. Wagner and Dick Logemann don’t want you to vote for them.

The four candidates, whose names will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot, have dropped out of the race, leaving a field of 11 candidates, who are seeking two seats on the council.

Bahia E. Wilson said she wants her supporters to vote for Gary Nouskajian, 43, and Councilwoman Jan M. Flory, 50.

Leland C. Wilson is throwing his support behind former Councilman Don Bankhead, 62, who recently was recalled from office, Bob McNutt, 50, and Flory.

Wagner said he decided to drop out of the race to urge his supporters to vote for Nouskajian.

Logemann, who hasn’t endorsed any of the candidates still in the race, said he dropped out months ago, soon after filing papers to run for City Council. “I’m not quite sure why I entered the race in the first place,” he said.

Leland C. Wilson and Wagner said they don’t believe they could win election and would rather push for candidates who are not endorsed by the Fullerton Recalls Committee.

“I think it’s important to try to make sure a recall member or two doesn’t get on the council,” Leland C. Wilson said.

One has already been elected. Conrad DeWitte, who is seeking reelection, won a seat in the special recall election earlier this month. DeWitte and his running mate, Jack Dean, 46, both have pledged to repeal the controversial utility tax, whose passage led to the recall of three council members in June.

Other candidates still in the race are: Michael J. Mummert, 35; Edith O’Donnell, 65; Stuart Stitch, 25; James J. Tanaka, 37, and Carole E. Wink, 55.