Ambra's wife, Libertarian pull papers for council Ambra's wife, Libertarian pull papers for council (August 09, 2002)

In crowded race, 16 people have pulled so far In crowded race, 16 people have pulled so far (August 09, 2002)

By Bill D'Agostino

Two potential wildcards -- including the wife of an ousted council member -- pulled papers on Wednesday for what is shaping up to be a very crowded, and potentially very wild, council election season.

"As far as I can remember, there are more people who have taken out nomination papers this time," noted City Clerk Angee Salvador.

Liz Ambra was the 15th person to pull papers for the race. Ambra is the wife of Mario Ambra, who was kicked off the council earlier this year for bullying city staff members.

The 16th potential candidate was Allen Hacker, a life-long libertarian who said he ran for U.S. Senate in Nevada in 1980. He has lived in Mountain View for 13 years.

Hacker, a business consultant and author of two books, told the Voice he intends to run for a seat despite not having much involvement in local government because he does not want taxes needlessly raised in the city. "I am an inventor of futures," he said.

There are three four-year seats open this year and one two-year seat, which is the remainder of Mario Ambra's term.

Timothy Devitt and Laura Brown, a first year planning commissioner, also pulled papers for the race this week.

A total of 11 people have files for the four-year seats. The only incumbent in the race is Vice Mayor Michael Kasperzak. Both he and former Planning Commissioner Tom Frakum have filed.

Five people have pulled papers for the two-year seat. Potential candidates have until this Friday, Aug. 9, to return the forms. That is, unless an incumbent chooses not to run, which is likely to happen since Mayor Sally Lieber is running for State Assembly on the Democratic ticket.

Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.