2 H.B. council candidates say they won’t run in fall

Two Huntington Beach City Council candidates, including one longtime incumbent, recently announced they will not be running in the election this fall.

After serving 16 years on council, Mayor Pro Tem Dave Sullivan said in an email Friday that he will not be seeking another term and is looking forward to retirement.

Sullivan has been known for fighting to preserve open space and working to stop high-density development. He also advocated for a new senior center, which opened in Central Park earlier this summer.

Three-time candidate Alex Polsky — whose campaign focused on transparency, city budget management and more regulation for high-density housing — announced Monday night in a Facebook post that he is suspending his campaign due to health issues.

Both Polsky and Sullivan urged residents to vote for Planning Commissioner Lyn Semeta, who is running for the second time.

“I ask you to make every effort, whether it be with financial support, hosting neighborhood meet [and] greets and/or by walking precincts, to see to it that Lyn Semeta is elected in 2016,” Polsky said in his post.

Sullivan said in his email that Semeta is the only candidate “who will continue the fight to maintain the character” of Huntington Beach’s suburban beach community.

Semeta said she was honored to receive Sullivan’s endorsement, adding that they both share similar ideas regarding open space and development.

“Dave has been a fiscal watchdog voice on City Council for so many years, and I’m honored he’s asked me to carry that torch for him in the future,” she said.

Mayor Jim Katapodis has also said would not be running for council. Councilwoman Jill Hardy is the only incumbent running for one of three open seats on the seven-member council.

First-time candidates Hemesh Patel, Aleksandr Donovan and Sophia Rangel also suspended their campaigns after pulling papers.

As of Tuesday afternoon there were 10 people who had pulled papers for the council election. A final list of candidates was scheduled to be finalized by the county registrar Wednesday evening. It was not available by press time.

brittany.woolsey@latimes.com

Twitter: @BrittanyWoolsey