When councilmember Roger Wykle asked about a minor item on the May 11 Moraga Town Council meeting agenda - finding a replacement for Mayor Mike Metcalf on the Hillside and Ridgeline Steering Committee - and questioned why the mayor wanted to be replaced, Metcalf dropped a bombshell: He would not be seeking re-election on the council in November.
Because Metcalf thought that the work of the H&R committee would not be completed by the end of the year, and since he would not seek re-election, he thought that someone else from the council should be sitting in his seat to complete the last phase of the committee's work.
Up until now, Metcalf had left an aura of doubt hovering as to whether or not he would run again. Metcalf has been on the council for three terms, spanning 12 years, and he has served as mayor three times. Before being an elected official, he volunteered on the Planning Commission, making that 18 years of service in Moraga politics. At the liaison meeting that followed the council, he said 18 years was enough and added that Supervisor Mary Nejedly Piepho, who said she believed in self-imposed term limits, had also inspired his decision.
The mayor said he was looking forward to not participating in the November local election, but that he would certainly warn his fellow citizens against any "wingnut" that might be running.
Wykle, whose seat is also up for re-election this fall, volunteered to take Metcalf's place on the committee. Is his decision to be on the committee indicative of a decision to run again? Wykle would not confirm.
Because Metcalf thought that the work of the H&R committee would not be completed by the end of the year, and since he would not seek re-election, he thought that someone else from the council should be sitting in his seat to complete the last phase of the committee's work.
Up until now, Metcalf had left an aura of doubt hovering as to whether or not he would run again. Metcalf has been on the council for three terms, spanning 12 years, and he has served as mayor three times. Before being an elected official, he volunteered on the Planning Commission, making that 18 years of service in Moraga politics. At the liaison meeting that followed the council, he said 18 years was enough and added that Supervisor Mary Nejedly Piepho, who said she believed in self-imposed term limits, had also inspired his decision.
The mayor said he was looking forward to not participating in the November local election, but that he would certainly warn his fellow citizens against any "wingnut" that might be running.
Wykle, whose seat is also up for re-election this fall, volunteered to take Metcalf's place on the committee. Is his decision to be on the committee indicative of a decision to run again? Wykle would not confirm.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA