Rumors have been swirling for months, and now it’s official: Former Monterey mayor Clyde Roberson is throwing his hat back in the ring. And because current Mayor Chuck Della Sala won’t be seeking re-election, Roberson might just run unopposed.
“I would love that,” Roberson says, adding that if he does have to campaign, it will be strictly “grassroots.”
Roberson served two consecutive terms as mayor from 1983-1987, as well as two separate stints on the Monterey City Council, from 1981-1990 and 1996-2006.
One might have guessed the former elementary school teacher would have had his fill of politics by now, and in some sense, he had.
“It’s not something where I said ‘Hey, I want to be mayor again,’” Roberson says. “I’ve just had the urging of so many local businesses, residents and neighborhood associations asking me to run.”
The most pressing issue Roberson hopes to tackle is balancing the budget.
“We are spending a lot of money on outside consultants,” Roberson says, “and we’ve got to attack the big pension liability the city has.”
Another big issue he plans on addressing has been a concern since he was elected to city council in 1981: quality of life.
“There is talk about outsourcing and privatizing the library and the sports center,” he says. “No! We've got to protect our services.
Roberson also hopes to lead a city hall that listens to the people.
“I want to make sure the community feels they can trust city hall. I want to make sure we’ve got a lot open government,” he says. "I've always felt the residents are the experts on their neighborhoods, and they really need to be listened to before plans are passed, not after.”