Candidates for Monterey City Council begin campaigns.

With the filing period for those interested in running for Monterey City Council opening on July 18, three incumbents and one challenger have already announced their intentions for a seat at the dais.

Monterey Mayor Clyde Roberson wants to keep his spot at the helm of city government, and no one has yet to announced a bid to unseat him. Roberson, who has served on-and-off on City Council for more than 20 years, ran unopposed in 2014.

City councilmembers Libby Downey and Alan Haffa jointly announced their intent for reelection in a mutual endorsement. They claim that together they have been a part of many accomplishments over the past four years including the revitalization of downtown and greater support for homeless services.

So far only Dan Albert Jr., son of longtime Monterey mayor Dan Albert, who served ten terms from 1986-2006, has stepped into the race in attempt to unseat either Downey or Haffa. One other as shown interest, but Senior Assistant City Clerk Clementine Klein would not give their name, as the person has yet to file paperwork or make an official announcement.

Monterey City Council seats are "at large," so the two open seats will go to the top two vote-getters in a citywide election on November 8.

The most pressing topics facing the city are affordable housing and infrastructure, says Haffa, who is also a professor at Monterey Peninsula College. Haffa will travel to Philadelphia next week to participate in the Democratic National Convention as a pledged delegate for Bernie Sanders.

“There are too many people who can’t afford to live here,” he says. “And while we began making progress with Measure P [a sales tax to fund road repair], there’s much more that needs to get done.”