Embattled councilman calls it quits

King's decision makes him the second incumbent to decline running for another term. Earlier this week, Don Eaton publicly announced his decision to leave his seat to somebody else.

Eaton's announcement extended the filing deadline until next Wednesday for challengers, such as resident Len Materman who had a "late appointment" to pull papers, according to City Clerk Christine Borland.

Materman worked with the federal government and at the University of California at Berkeley to building sustainable communities. He is president of America's River Communities Inc, a nonprofit, and previously worked as an advisor to the Director of FEMA in Washington, DC.

Three seats - those held by King, Eaton and Councilman Matt Grocott - are open in San Carlos. Grocott filed Friday as did challengers Planning Commissioners Alex Phillips, former councilman John Hoffman and Parks and Recreation Commissioner Brad Lewis. Candidate Tony LaBell was disqualified for lacking enough qualified signatures but held out hope as a write-in candidate.

Both Hoffman and Grocott are awaiting final certification from the county elections department, according to Borland's records.

King, a CEO for Bank of Santa Clara, just stepped down as mayor last year. He ended his 2004 term in the midst of brewing scandal, first the brouhaha over Public Works Director Parviz Mohktari's contracts with the city followed by an invoicing scandal at the South County Fire Authority. King was implicated, though never charged, in a plan to create fraudulent invoices for consultant Peg Collier after the Measure I campaign failed.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.