Hosmer will seek third term on Colusa City Council

Colusa Councilwoman Kay Hosmer said she has something positive to offer the city, so she will seek a third term in November.

"I'm not running to do anything, because I am already doing it," Hosmer said.

She knows she will be a target of what has become a very vocal opposition group, but said that does not bother her.

"I have always been a target," Hosmer said.

"There is always a small group of naysayers ... and a lot of people are tired of it," Hosmer said. "The city is made up of a lot of different communities, and that is what makes me feel good that I have something positive to offer."

She also thinks that opposition group is a smaller minority than they want to believe, and many members are not even city residents, so they will not have a vote.

At the center of that opposition is Hosmer's support of the city's current economic development policy, and specifically her support of a consultant's contract that pays Mark Mayuga nearly $8,000 a month.

Hosmer has not shied away from her belief that investment will pay off, and patience is key.

And Hosmer said that is not the only part of being a council member. She said she is involved in all aspects of council business, something she does not think all November candidates can claim.

She said she spends a great deal of time away from the official meetings and committees working on the city's behalf, and to help individual citizens.

She also points to her work on LAFCO, a regional land-use agency, which includes time on the state level, though she plans to cut back there.

Instead, Hosmer said she plans to be more involved in the League of California Cities. It all helps, she said, to keep Colusa involved in the North State and California as a whole.

"I am the only certified city council member," said Hosmer, pointing to the time and expense she has dedicated to training through the league and other groups.

Hosmer becomes the fourth candidate to step forward, and the second of three incumbents whose terms come to an end this year.

Councilman Kirk Kelleher, who originally announced in February he would not run, changed his mind in early May. Only Mayor Pat Landreth has not indicated if he will run.

Chris Fantl and Greg Panciano have indicated they intend to run as well.

The filing period opens on July 16 and runs through Aug. 10.

Hosmer officially made her announcement during the Colusa County Fair Parade, with a sign on her Picket Fence Antiques float encouraging vo ers to re-elect her.

She said it was preparing for the parade that she made up her mind.

As they prepared the float, a local resident, someone who has been a longtime mentor, stopped by and asked her if she was running.

That raised the issue to the forefront, and when an old re-election sign appeared, Hosmer said that is when she decided.

"I thought, it was meant to be."

At the very least, the announcement sets up an interesting campaign with Hosmer and Kelleher, who have not hidden their dislike for each other — at least when it comes to city business.

Those disagreements have become personal at times, as well.