Curt Kinney was about to run for City Council, but his wife talked him out of it.
The former mayor of San Ramon, now in his 70s, went to City Hall Wednesday to pick up the paperwork after he heard that current Mayor H. Abram Wilson plans to run for a seat on council.
"I hope he doesn't get elected," said Kinney, who first got elected to City Council in 1996.
We caught up with Wilson at Thursday night's Town Hall forum. When asked about the former mayor's fightin' words, Wilson kept his cool, steering the conversation to Kinney's wife, Jeanne.
"I think Jeanne is a wonderful person," Wilson said carefully. "She's done a lot for the city and I wish her the best."
Kinney, on the other hand, had strong words for the about-to-term-out mayor, accusing him of being a fake conservative.
"He's the one that's responsible for our previous city attorney retiring with about $375,000 a year."
Kinney was the last mayor to serve before the city made it an elected office. The position used to be rotated among council members every year.
Kinney, a retired cop, ran against Wilson in 2003 and lost. And Wilson has run unopposed ever since.
The election is Nov. 8. There are two council seats and the mayor's slot on the ballot. , and .
This year, Wilson terms out after four two-year runs in office. .
Running against Rowley for mayor is Bill Clarkson, who spent 12 years on the San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board of Education. .
Kinney doesn't mind Clarkson, but he said his vote goes to Rowley, who he said has more experience. So does his financial support and his lawn for a campaign sign.
Then there's Dominique Yancey, a Parks and Community Services Commissioner and prosecutor for the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office. She picked up papers but hasn't publicly confirmed whether she'll run for office. She's toying with the idea, though, whether it pans out this year or the next election cycle.
Phil O'Loane's another name that's come up this election season.
He's a former planning commissioner, smart/slow-growth advocate and a leading opponent to , a failed 2010 ballot measure that would have expanded the city's urban growth boundary into the undeveloped Tassajara Valley.
O'Loane hasn't filed yet, but he announced plans to run for one of those two council seats.
Kinney gives O'Loane his blessing, too, he said.
And since his wife put her foot down about Kinney running for actual office, he said he'll let his votes do the talking.
– James T. Ott contributed to this report
To reach reporter Jennifer Wadsworth, email jenniferw@patch.com or call 925-238-5742. Reach reporter James T. Ott at jamesott84@yahoo.com or call him at 925-238-5741. Follow @SanRamonPatch on Twitter and Facebook.
