Nov. 4 is shaping up to be the big election day in Hanford, with two city council seats up for grabs. Political hopefuls have until this Friday, some until Aug. 13, to file their candidacy papers. So far, four candidates have officially declared for the District B seat, currently held by outgoing incumbent Marcie Buford.

Two of the newcomers are Jon-Michael Hice, 31, and Robin Mattos, 48.

Hice, spokesman for First 5 Kings County, and Mattos, a consultant and business owner, join John Murrisky, a political novice, and Sue Sorensen, a city planning commissioner, who declared their candidacy early in the season. Hice and Mattos, who both filed their papers last week, kicked off an official campaign Tuesday.

With Buford out of the race, the nomination period has been extended until Aug. 13, although no one else has pulled candidacy papers.

Hice, who ran unsuccessfully in 2004, calls himself a "new voice for our community."

"The time has come, where District B residents have an opportunity to elect a new council member," Hice said. "I feel that I am the best person for the job, one who will respect the representative nature of the position and promote public inquiry and transparency in government."

Hice's community service resume includes work with the Kings County Asthma Coalition, Kings County Tobacco Free Partnership and the Kings County Association of Governments.

Mattos, whose husband Andrew Mattos previously ran against Buford in 2004 and came in second in the race, says the city council should do more to protect recreational opportunities and downtown and increase public participation.

"I believe a city council member should work to preserve and protect our recreational facilities and historic downtown, promote more public participation in decisions affecting our citizens and to ensure that the city of Hanford is able to provide its citizens public safety and other essential services in the most timely and efficient manner," Mattos said in a statement. "As your council representative, these principles will guide my decision making."

Mattos previously ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the College of the Sequoias board in November 2006. She was defeated by incumbent John Zumwalt.

Campaign platforms of Hice and Mattos have their similarities and differences.

Hice puts his priorities on developing job opportunities, east side development, paying more for public safety personnel and improving recreation. Mattos focuses her campaign on preservation of historic heritage and recreational opportunities, promoting open government, bettering public safety through proper staffing and employee retention and aggressively seeking more federal and state funds to keep utility rates reasonable.

Also up for election is the District C seat, currently held by Dan Chin. Chin, who is seeking re-election, faces the challenge of Mike Spicer, a security manager for Kaiser Permanente and a longtime resident of Hanford.

The 54-year-old former California Highway Patrol officer and former Hanford Joint Union High School District board member filed his papers last week, three days after Chin did his.

The District C race is also shaping up to be a crowded battlefield.

According to the City Clerk's Office, Richard Douglas, stepfather of Hice, and Jim Castleman, employment and training technician at the Kings County Job Training Office, have also pulled their candidacy papers. They have until this Friday to collect enough signatures from registered voters in the district and have them verified by the city clerk to qualify as official candidates.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(Aug. 7, 2008)