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Election: Five potential candidates for MP council

by Renee Batti

Chuck Bernstein, who has been active in opposing the Bohannon-Menlo Gateway project and in helping to qualify the citizen-driven pension reform initiative for the November ballot, and high-speed rail opponent Michael J. Brady took out papers July 29 to run for a seat on the City Council.

In a prepared statement, Mr. Bernstein said he wants to help the city in "establishing a balanced budget and maintaining it, making wiser land-use decisions in a more timely manner, and ensuring that government works for its citizens instead of the citizens working to maintain government."

Mr. Brady, an attorney, has filed at least two lawsuits against the California High-Speed Rail Authority for a range of complaints. He could not be immediately reached for comment.

Mr. Bernstein is president and co-founder of Early Learning Institute, which operates three child development centers and two private schools in the Bay Area. In the last decade, he has served on city task forces that studied residential development, child care services, and the budget.

So far, Mr. Bernstein, Mr. Brady, council incumbents Rich Cline and Heyward Robinson, and Menlo Park Fire Protection Board President Peter Ohtaki have taken out papers. No one has filed yet to become official candidates for the three open seats to be filled by voters on Nov. 2.

The filing deadline is Aug. 6, but will be extended to Aug. 11 if Councilman John Boyle sticks to his decision not to seek a second term.