Lone Challenger to Make Run for City Council

With all seven Torrance City Council members being forced from office by term limits in 2000 or 2002 and a lack of major issues facing the fourth-largest city in the county, Tuesday’s municipal election has attracted only one challenger to seek one of three city council seats.

David Hill, 26, a student at Cal State Northridge and a former Marine who served in Somalia, is running against three incumbents seeking reelection. He faces five-term Councilman Dan Walker and one-term council members Marcia Cribbs and Jack Messerlian.

Mayor Dee Hardison, City Clerk Sue Herbers and Treasurer Linda Barnett are running unopposed. The election will cost the city an estimated $140,000.

Allan Hoffenblum, a Los Angeles-based political consultant, said most elections typically do not attract challengers unless there is a vacancy. Hoffenblum said Torrance’s next election will probably bring out several candidates.

Hill, who unlike his challengers has never served on a Torrance commission, said he has learned leadership experience in the military and as a member of the student senate at Cal State Northridge. If elected, Hill said he plans to address maintenance and safety issues in addition to noise problems at Torrance Municipal airport.