Ten applicants vie for one vacant Carmel City Council seat.

When five candidates ran for two open seats on Carmel City Council, which held elections April 12, it seemed like a competitive race. 

Now, there's one vacant seat—which opened after to the election because former councilman Steve Dallas won his bid for mayor, leaving his half-finished term unfilled—and 10 applicants. 

Dallas and vice-mayor Carrie Theis are interviewing those 10 candidates, plus two applicants to the Forest and Beach Commission and 13 applicants to the Planning Commission, among others, this week. 

They'll make their recommendations for appointments at a special City Council meeting June 1, then the new—and full—City Council will have its first regular meeting June 7. 

The contenders for council include Richard Kreitman, a gallery owner who came in third in the election, with 17 percent of the vote. (The winners were Jan Reimers and Bobby Richards.) Kreitman was a frequent critic of the last council and former administration, and says it's his turn to serve on the other side.

Dave Mosley, who positioned himself as the "residents' candidate" and placed fourth in the election, also applied for the vacant seat, as well as a position on the board of the Harrison Memorial Library or the Forest and Beach Commission. (His wife, Darlene Mosley, applied for a seat on the Planning Commission.)

Other applicants to the City Council seat include Monterey County Economic Development Director Dave Spaur.

"I am a very concern [sic] citizen about how Carmel residents, visitors and business owners interact with one another to resolve challenges rather than create new challenges," he wrote on his application. "My goal is to help foster and create a productive environment that promotes a unified and friendly village."

Carolyn Hardy, who's long been outspoken in Carmel politics and applied to fill a council vacancy in 2014, has applied again to serve on Council or the Planning Commission.

She's also served on the Carmel Community Activities & Cultural Commission. "My interest is purely altruistic," she wrote on her application. "I care about the issues facing Carmel."

Real estate broker Bob Profeta, who ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 2012 and owns Alain Pinel Real Estate and The Forge Restaurant. 

Other applicants include Forest and Beach Commissioner Jeff Baron and Donna Jett, who serves on the Carmel Community Activities & Cultural Commission.

There's also long-time Carmel builder Chris Tescher, who says he wants to make city government more efficient; retired teacher Mitzi Daly, who pledges to provide "a fresh look, outside the 'inner circle'"; and LaNette Zimmerman, a retired human resources executive who's lived in Carmel for four years, who's also applied to serve on the Planning Commission and Cultural Commission.