Villicana Backs Chris Holden in Race for Mayor
Councilwoman Ann-Marie Villicana, who narrowly missed a runoff to become the city’s first elected mayor in 88 years, has endorsed Mayor Chris Holden for the office.
Contending that a victory for former Mayor Bill Bogaard would be a “step backward” for the city, Villicana said Holden will be a pro-business mayor and less willing to raise taxes than Bogaard, who served as mayor in 1985.
She also said another factor was Bogaard’s decision 13 years ago to quit the City Council six months before his term was completed.
Bogaard disputed Villicana’s charges. He said that as a councilman he never raised taxes. And, he said, he stepped down from office because of an increased workload as the top attorney for First Interstate Bank.
The endorsement from Republican Villicana is a boost to the Holden campaign, which needs to make up ground by the April 20 runoff.
Bogaard was the top vote-getter in the March 9 primary, garnering more than 43% of the vote, compared with Holden’s 25% and Villicana’s 24%.
However, Bogaard said many of Villicana’s supporters have indicated they will support him in the runoff.
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