Two longshot hometown candidates are among the 42 contenders who are seeking to succeed the retiring City Manager Jerry Fulwood this spring.
Their names will not surprise community watchers because both have been critical of City Hall’s policies and conduct.
School Board member Steve Gourley and retired police officer Greg Smith are the neon names on a list that will be reduced to manageable size in time for two community meetings, Wednesday, Feb. 18, and Wednesday, Feb. 25.
The former Lt. Smith, who spent 31 years with the Police Dept., perhaps has been Mr. Fulwood’s strongest critic. He said he is running because “a lot was left unaccomplished” when he retired as a police officer a little more than a year ago.
“In view of the hard economic times, this would be a good opportunity to go in and help correct a lot of financial problems that could have been avoided.”
For a number of years, Mr. Smith was the Police Dept.’s chief liaison with City Hall.
A City Hall Veteran
Mr. Gourley, a lawyer by profession, first was elected to the City Council a generation ago. A surprise candidate for the School Board a year ago last summer, he handily won election 15 months ago.
Colleagues graded him favorably during his opening year, but clearly he has kept an eye on his old territory at City Hall.
Mr. Gourley is the second member of the School Board to declare for a rival position in recent weeks.
In the final year of her second four-year term, Saundra Davis is a candidate for the Westside state Senate seat vacated by Mark Ridley-Thomas when he was elected to the County Board of Supervisors last November.
Meanwhile back at City Hall, it probably will be late March before the City Council chooses the next City Manager.
