When former City Councilman Alan Corlin left office, no one asked if he was going to run again. When former Councilman Steve Rose departed, no one asked him, either. When that political rarity Steve Gourley – former Councilman later elected to the School Board, finished his first Board term, he said he was through. No haranguing. No one doubted his vow.
Scott Zeidman is different, however. The popular community perception is that the lawyer/businessman/entrepreneur owns an incomplete political career.
He possesses an unfulfilled ambition, vision – and has much to say.
Presently an appointee to the Parks and Recreation Commission, every time the election wheel spins, Mr. Zeidman is asked about his intentions.
As recently as yesterday, on the occasion of his 54th birthday, the youthful-looking Mr. Zeidman issued his standard reply when asked about April’s City Council race:
“Not this year,” he said, casting one eye on an eight-candidate field.
Every inquirer nevertheless believes that he has an unquenchable thirst for politics. Sometime ahead, he will give an affirmative reply.
“I am very happy to see there are enough candidates to fill the three seats,” he said.
Three and a half months ahead of Election Day in April, Mr. Zeidman is ready to vote.
“I am supporting three candidates,” he said, Goran Eriksson, Marcus Tiggs and Scott Wyant.
Here is why:
“All three come from different parts of our city, meaning each one has had a different experience, and brings a different perspective. The three of them together would be fantastic.
“Goran has the business background. I have no idea what his business does. He must be successful because he still is there. It’s really important to have the business-owner side represented on the Council.
“Scott Wyant probably should have run 10 years ago, but he had a foot injury.”
Elaborating on the prospect of a tech entrepreneur sitting on the dais, Mr. Zeidman said: “The world has changed so dramatically that I had to ask (my son) Jason to explain how to use some of my holiday gifts. To have a gentleman with a tech background on the Council is another side we have not had before. I hate to use the word, but it’s great to have the diversity there, someone with a background completely different.
“Marcus Tiggs not only is a bright guy who served our country for many years, but a real guy. He is really, really smart. He can look at a matter pragmatically.
“While he is not an owner of his law firm,” said Mr. Zeidman, “he works out there every day, and he deals with bankruptcy. So he has seen what is going on negatively out there.
“Gosh,” said the exuberant fellow lawyer, “what a great brain Marcus has to help the city.
“Now out the three of them together. They are working people. They understand what it is like to own a business, to run a business, to work for a business. They are three really, really great candidates.”
