Ponciano running for City Council

The June primary campaigns have hardly gotten under way, and Greg Ponciano is already eager to focus the voters' attention on the November Colusa City Council election.

"I have been thinking about it for quite a long time," said Ponciano, who was born and raised in Colusa and is a 1984 Colusa High graduate.

He moved out of the area for a short while, but he and his wife, Stephanie, returned to raise their daughter. She is now 22. They also have a 2-year-old son.

Ponciano is the plant manager for Ramos Oil Co. in Williams.

The council election could prove to be one of the most contentious in a number of years, with as many as a dozen people out in the public rumored to be considering a run for what could be four open seats.

Three positions are up for election, and if Councilman Tom Reische were to win his supervisorial bid in June, his seat also would become available.

At the heart of the furor is the city's recent economic development debate, and specifically paying nearly $8,000 a month to a consultant.

Ponciano doesn't deny that is an issue for him. He does not agree with the contract, and is not convinced Mark Mayuga is the right man for the job.

However, he insists his decision to run is not so narrowly defined. It has been a decision he has been considering for several years.

He said he has sat on a number of boards and been part of a number of community groups, and running for the council is just the next step in that community involvement.

"It just seems there is a lot going on in our little down, and I think we need a fresh set of eyes and ears," Ponciano said.

"I do not want to come in with an agenda."

But Ponciano believes there is too much of a focus on fixing what ails the town by looking to the outside first.

"I think we need to accept who we are as a small town ... and to understand what our limitations are," Ponciano said.

"I don't think there is anything wrong with being a small town, and I think we should enjoy it."

His first inclination is to try to build on what already exists first.

"I think that is a more realistic starting point," Ponciano said.