Two out of three Escalon City Council members whose seats will be up for election in November have indicated their interest and intent to run for office again.
Monday, July 12 was the first day to pick up nominating papers to run for office in the Nov. 2 election that will seat three council members, each for a four-year term. The terms of current Mayor Walt Murken, Mayor Pro Tem Danny Fox and councilman Ed Alves are expiring, with Murken indicating that, right now, he is leaning toward exiting the council.
Fox and Alves, meanwhile, both have said they plan to run again.
"I have to," Fox said of seeking reelection to another term. "Those guys (fellow councilmen) voted me in to be the next mayor."
Being named Mayor pro tem is not automatically a 'lock' for the mayor's post, but Fox said he definitely plans on running because he feels there is a lot of work left to do in the community and he wants to continue those efforts.
Alves, who has previously served as mayor and been on the council for several terms, agreed that now is a crucial time and he feels a knowledgeable council will be key.
"You can't just hit and run, you've got to put the time in," Alves said.
Murken, who has served two four-year terms and spent the last two years as mayor, admitted he hasn't fully ruled out a run but is more than likely going to leave the dais.
"I don't plan on running at this point in time," he said. "But I'll kind of leave it up in the air, see who else might be running."
Murken said there are many "other things to do" in his life right now, balancing his work at Sharpe Army Depot and having time to be involved with his children still in Escalon schools among them.
He has been with Sharpe for seven years, moving there after leaving his post as police chief in Escalon.
"I've enjoyed it and I've learned a lot," Murken said of his time on the council. "I would do it again, maybe some time in the future."
As far as anyone considering a run for local office, Murken offered a little advice.
"Keep an open mind, keep the city's best interests at heart ... and leave the personal agendas at home," he said.
Council members are elected at large in Escalon, with the top vote getters named to the available posts. The mayor is then selected by a vote of the council, as is the mayor pro tem.
Nominating papers are available at the City Clerk's office, 1854 Main St., Escalon. Available now, the last day to file papers to run for election will be Friday, Aug. 6 unless no incumbents file papers. Then the deadline is extended to Aug. 11.
Polls in the Nov. 2 election will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday, July 12 was the first day to pick up nominating papers to run for office in the Nov. 2 election that will seat three council members, each for a four-year term. The terms of current Mayor Walt Murken, Mayor Pro Tem Danny Fox and councilman Ed Alves are expiring, with Murken indicating that, right now, he is leaning toward exiting the council.
Fox and Alves, meanwhile, both have said they plan to run again.
"I have to," Fox said of seeking reelection to another term. "Those guys (fellow councilmen) voted me in to be the next mayor."
Being named Mayor pro tem is not automatically a 'lock' for the mayor's post, but Fox said he definitely plans on running because he feels there is a lot of work left to do in the community and he wants to continue those efforts.
Alves, who has previously served as mayor and been on the council for several terms, agreed that now is a crucial time and he feels a knowledgeable council will be key.
"You can't just hit and run, you've got to put the time in," Alves said.
Murken, who has served two four-year terms and spent the last two years as mayor, admitted he hasn't fully ruled out a run but is more than likely going to leave the dais.
"I don't plan on running at this point in time," he said. "But I'll kind of leave it up in the air, see who else might be running."
Murken said there are many "other things to do" in his life right now, balancing his work at Sharpe Army Depot and having time to be involved with his children still in Escalon schools among them.
He has been with Sharpe for seven years, moving there after leaving his post as police chief in Escalon.
"I've enjoyed it and I've learned a lot," Murken said of his time on the council. "I would do it again, maybe some time in the future."
As far as anyone considering a run for local office, Murken offered a little advice.
"Keep an open mind, keep the city's best interests at heart ... and leave the personal agendas at home," he said.
Council members are elected at large in Escalon, with the top vote getters named to the available posts. The mayor is then selected by a vote of the council, as is the mayor pro tem.
Nominating papers are available at the City Clerk's office, 1854 Main St., Escalon. Available now, the last day to file papers to run for election will be Friday, Aug. 6 unless no incumbents file papers. Then the deadline is extended to Aug. 11.
Polls in the Nov. 2 election will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
