Tracys mayor wont be Bilbrey

Oakland Tribune, Aug 12, 2006 by Mike Martinez

TRACY -- As candidates filed their documents to become Tracys next mayor or a mem-ber of the City Council, the biggest statement was made by someone who did nothing at all.

For the first time since 1994, George Dan Bilbrey isnt running for mayor.

Bilbrey, who retired from his position as executive director of the Tracy Community Memorial Hospital Foundation earlier this spring, had been mum throughout the summer as to his intentions.

But they became crystal clear at 5 p.m. Friday when he failed to pull and file documents signaling an end to his 12-year career as mayor, easily making him the longest sitting mayor in Tracy history.

After Bilbrey, who has served for six consecutive two-year terms as mayor, the only person with at least six consecutive years holding the gavel was Nelson S. Dwelly who was appointed president by the citys then-Board of Trustees from 1916 through 1922.

Bilbrey was unavailable for comment Friday.

Since voters began electing the mayor in 1986, the only person other than Bilbrey to serve more than one term was Clyde Bland from 1990 to 1994.

With the incumbent mayor not running, the deadline for candidates to file has been extended until 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The next mayor would be Tracys fifth, and one candidate who has already filed could become the first woman mayor.

Having already filed are Tracy businessman Larry Hite and health care consultant Celeste Garamendi. David C. Gold has also taken out papers buthas not yet returned them.

Tracy City Councilman Brent Ives has pulled paperwork to run for mayor and has stated he would only seek the position if Bilbrey wasnt running. Ives, who has two years remaining on his current term, would remain on the council if he lost.

Ives expects to file his documents early next week.

Hite said the city needs a new direction and should become a destination instead of a drive through point.

Garamendi said she wants to lead Tracy in the direction of smart- growth, and wants to be more of pioneer for that than the first elected woman mayor.

She is also touting an eight-point Contract with Tracy which outlines the platform shes running on. It leans heavily on slow- growth and upholding Measure A. Garamendi said her vision for the future of Tracy is reflected in the community.

We need to focus on making Tracy one of the best communities to live in, Garamendi said. As a goal, we should make Tracy a place where people want to live and be able to attract them because of the quality of life.

Councilwoman Evelyn Tolbert decided against a mayoral run, citing her involvement in a number of different projects throughout the city. Instead she is moving forward in a bid for her third term on the council.

She said it was a tough decision to make but wont have to cut back on her community projects.

If I ran and didnt take the appropriate amount of time (to campaign), I wouldnt win the election and I would be off the council and not able to continue to be a voice for the broad cross section I represent, Tolbert said.

If I get out there and keep doing what Im doing, basically putting in a good 60-to-70 hours a week, somebodys bound to see me and think Im worth voting for.

Councilwoman Suzanne Tucker is also seeking re-election to her third term. With both incumbents running, the filing deadline for candidates for the Tracy City Council expired Friday evening.

Including the two incumbents, there are eight people running for two available seats on the council. Also running are: Mike Maciel, a retired Tracy Police Capt.; Ed Gable, a member of Tracys Planning Commission; Clif Schofield, a local businessman; Peter Mitracos, a small business owner; Roger Admikari, a corporate financial consultant; and Carole Dominguez, finance technician at the University of the Pacific.

Dominguez said she thinks its time for a change on the council and is running on a platform similar to Garamendis including the Contract with Tracy.

It was a good time to commit to the contract of trying to make Tracy a better place to live now, Dominguez said. Thats what Im striving for.

Garamendi said Adhikari has also pledged to sign the contract.

Maciel said, if elected, he would respect Measure A, but isnt necessarily a advocate of slow-growth. He said when developer deals come up, they must be thoroughly examined for what benefits they bring the city before selling the farm.

He also said he would like to see more officers on patrol because the citys growth has out-paced its police resources. Serving on the council would give him an opportunity to stay involved with the community, but in a different way.

The race for school board in Tracy Unified will feature a number of veteran incumbents with the lone challenger at this point being a former trustee.

The only definite change election day in Tracy Unified will bring is the departure of board member Gerard Machado, who has won the republican nomination for the 17th Assembly District.