June 3 Morro Bay City Primary: Who's Running?

by Jack McCurdy

Those who sought to recall mayor Jamie Irons over the past six months — and failed miserably — now will surely focus on defeating his bid for reelection at the Morro Bay city primary election on June 3.

Irons is defying the attacks, turmoil, and bitterness that marked the attempted recall, which apparently did not generate a single signature on petitions aimed at placing his recall on the ballot. At least, no signatures were turned in to the city clerk, which prevented any recall measure from qualifying for the ballot.

Even if he is defeated, his colleagues — Christine Johnson and Noah Smukler, who were elected with him in the 2012 June primary — could remain in control of the Council, if Matt Makowetski, their ally, is elected as a member of the Council on June 3. Makowetski is a teacher and has served for four years as chair of the city's Public Works Advisory Board.

But even if he isn't, and neither is Irons, the other side — closely identified with the recall advocates — stands little chance of gaining control of the Council. That's because only two of those who are running — Carla Wixom (formerly Borchard) and incumbent Nancy Johnson — are among the five candidates in the primary. That would make the vote 2-2 on the Council even if they are elected. Wixom served on the Council for four years up to the 2012 primary when she was defeated as a candidate for mayor by Irons.

Who could be the fifth elected Council member?

He is John Headding, a newcomer to Morro Bay politics, a first-time candidate for Council, and a pharmacist who is owner and operator of Morro Bay Drug and Gift at 600 Morro Bay Boulevard. He describes himself as "neutral" in the failed effort to recall Irons. Headding is president-elect of the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce, which is believed to harbor a number of past Irons recall advocates who are now his reelection opponents.

Headding says he did not sign the petition aimed at qualifying the Irons recall for the ballot. That petition failed. (Since the petition was not turned in to the city clerk, the names of those who signed are not public.)

Headding said he has never run for public office but was very active in community affairs when living in the San Joaquin Valley before moving to Morro Bay about four years ago.

The other Council candidate is Nancy Johnson, who is running for reelection to the Council and has been very critical of Irons about the severance of former city attorney Rob Schultz and former city manager Andrea Lueker, which touched off the recall effort. Nancy Johnson has seemed to align herself with the recall crowd.

George Leage chose not to seek reelection after four years on the Council, as of next November. As a candidate on June 3, he likely would have been the target of criticism over handling of the harbor front lease now reportedly controlled by his family. Some feel his decline to run for reelection would have opened the way for more electable candidates of his stripe. Problem is no others of that kind are running anew.