Long-time councilman Stan Brauer will not seek re-election to the Loma Linda City Council.
Brauer had not filed the necessary paperwork by today’s deadline for incumbents, according to an email from Mayor Pro Tem Ovidiu Popescu. Brauer, Popescu and Mayor Rhodes Rigsby are up for re-election June 5. Rigsby and Popescu filed their papers to run today.
Dr. John Lenart, a member of the city’s Planning Commission filed today to run for the seat being vacated by Brauer. Rigsby and Popescu have announced their support for Lenart.
Because only the two incumbents and Lenart filed by today, the deadline for potential candidates to file paperwork to run for City Council has been extended to end of business Wednesday. If there is not more candidates than seats available, officials can cancel the election and appoint the candidates.
Brauer was first elected to the City Council 1992. He served as mayor pro-tem from July 1998 to April 2000 and again from May 2005 to April 2008. He served as mayor from July 2008 to July 2010.
He is an anesthesiologist at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He currently serves as city delegate to CJPIA Board of Directors, and an alternate to the Solid Waste Management Board and San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District Advisory Commission
He and wife Carol have two children Max and Laura.
“Dr. Brauer was a great mentor to me on the City Council," Rigsby said. “He was a great mayor. He was a stalwart in every sense of the word. And still is.
“What he’s doing is making good on a promise he made 20 years ago when he first ran. He said, ‘I’ll only run for one term.’ And every four years, to the benefit of Loma Linda, he forestalled that term limit. And now it’s finally coming home to roost. I suspect his family convinced him not to do it again, because he was still enjoying himself and doing a great job.”
Dr. Lenart also works as an anestesiologist at Loma Linda University Medical Center and is a 32-year resident of Loma Linda, according to the email from Popescu. Lenart also has a Master's Degree in Divinity.
And according to Rigsby, he shares some of the same political philosphies as Brauer.
“He has a lot of things in common with Dr. Brauer,” Rigsby said by phone. “They are both self-described on the libertarian side of the political spectrum. I hesitate to mention that about people, because people think of libertarian as a party. It’s not necessarily a party, but an attribute. It’s the opposite of authoritarian. These guys are my buddies in the anti-authoritarian side of politics. That’s why I supported Stan. That’s why I support John Lenart.”
Candidates must file statements of economic interest when they submit their paperwork. Incumbents who have submitted an annual statement within 60 days of their nomination do not have to file the statement. Candidate statements for the ballot and sample ballot and a ballot designation worksheet must also be submitted with the paperwork.
Candidate statements are open for the public to review after the filing deadline has passed. Statements may be withdrawn, but not changed until after the filing date.
Anyone interested in running may call (909) 799-2800 or visit the Civic Center, 25541 Barton Road.
