Berkeley mayor, predecessor to face off again

San Fancisco Chronicle ^ | 8/12/8 | Charles Burress, Michael Cabanatuan

[SmithL]

The Berkeley mayor's race promises a dramatic reprise this year with a rematch between incumbent Tom Bates and the former mayor he unseated in a hard-fought election six years ago, Shirley Dean.

The mayor's race normally is every four years, but Bates' current term is ending in two years because of a charter amendment that moved the vote for mayor to presidential election years.

Missing from the race will be Zachary Running Wolf, an outspoken advocate for the Cal stadium tree-sitters who ran unsuccessfully for mayor two years ago. He declared his candidacy again this year and filed papers, but he lacked enough valid signatures, acting Deputy City Clerk Mark Numainville said Monday after a review by the Alameda County registrar's office.

The mayoral filing papers, which were due Friday, were certified Monday by the city clerk's office, . . .

Berkeley

Mayor: Bates; Dean.

What's at stake: While the sharp partisan divide of Berkeley politics has diminished in recent years, battles between left-of-center and further-left-of-center still flare over such perennial issues as downtown development, hospitality to business and UC growth. Also expected to draw attention is the city's opposition to Cal's proposed student athlete-training center next to Memorial Stadium, where tree-sitting protesters have been ensconced for 20 months.

[SmithL]

Tom Bates

Shirley Dean

[the anti-liberal]

Are the two women praying to their ‘fruits-and-nuts’ god?

[Doctor Raoul]

See what drug use will do to you...

[Iron Munro]

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