Politics & Government
Chris Crow To Seek Open City Council Seat
Candidate refiles his paperwork to run for the seat being vacated by City Councilwoman Joyce Starosciak.
Businessman Chris Crow, who had previously intended to run against incumbent City Councilwoman Ursula Reed, has shifted gears and will now seek the fourth district seat being vacated by Councilwoman Joyce Starosciak.
Starosciak has reached her term limit and cannot run this year.
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Crow is the second candidate to officially declare his candidacy for the open fourth district seat.
Darlene Daevu, Washington Manor resident and member of the San Leandro Senior Commission, has already filed the paperwork to run for the open seat, as previously reported by San Leandro Bytes.
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Manor resident Benny Lee has told Patch that he intends to make a run in the fourth district but has not yet officially thrown his hat into the ring.
Crow was appointed to the Planning Commission by Reed, who also in January owing to their political rivalry.
Reed is expected to seek re-election but has not yet made it official.
With Crow's move to another district, she would be unopposed unless a new rival steps forth.
In explaining his change of districts, Crow said Monday night that he had "always had a special connection to the Manor" ever since he bowled there with his cousins in the Henry’s Tigers Youth bowling league when they were boys.
He said Washington Manor "boasts the lowest rate of crime in San Leandro, the lowest commercial vacancy rate, and the most active homeowners association."
Under the city's election rules, council candidates must live in the district they represent but are elected by the voters at large.
A third candidate, Benny Lee, has also told Patch he intends to run but has not yet filed the paperwork to make it official.
City Councilman Jim Prola, who represents the sixth district, is also up for re-election and has said that he will run.
As yet he has no declared opponent, making the fourth district the only contested race so far.
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