Ricca, Schapiro to re-run By Matt Kapko Eye Correspondent The Arcata Eye 07-09-2002 The seats currently held by Blue Lake City Councilmembers Alex Ricca and Sherman Schapiro will be open this coming November. Schapiro plans to run again. He hopes to see the city through many important issues it will be facing in the next four years. “I don’t have a personal agenda and try to listen to and understand the issues and take them as they come,” said Schapiro. One goal of his is to develop a working relationship with the Blue Lake Casino. “I’m hoping to open some lines of communication with the Rancheria. “We have no real understanding of their plans,” he added. Schapiro wants to focus his efforts on maintaining a viable city for the residents of Blue Lake. The traffic congestion from the casino’s construction and the city’s improvement of streets has become bothersome. Schapiro said he’s hoping once the roundabout is completed the traffic situation will be alleviated. Schapiro is interested in the possibility for annexing new lands to the city. “We’re doing a study to see the feasibility of annexing some areas we have services to already,” he said. According to City Clerk Karen Nessler there will be a town meeting about the annexation in the next couple months. Attempts to contact Ricca to ask his plans for the coming election went unsuccessful. But, according to Schapiro and published reports, Ricca does plan to run for re-election. Schapiro voiced some reservations about Ricca. He described Ricca as outspoken and feels he has exhausted too much of the city council’s time accusing City Manager Duane Rigge of embezzlement with no actual proof. “I think Alex is opposed to the managerial style of government,” he said. According to Schapiro, Ricca would like to be in more control of financial issues. Schapiro understands Ricca’s concerns but prefers having a city manager, saying “you’re gonna just get piecemeal without one.” Schapiro is looking forward to the election and said with Ricca running it will make for an interesting one. Nomination papers are available at Blue Lake City Hall and can be submitted beginning Monday, July 15. All interested candidates must be residents of Blue Lake living within its city limits. To be nominated for the city council, candidates must obtain at least five and not more than 10 signatures of endorsement. The signatures must be Blue Lake residents and use a valid address within city limits, as a post office box will be invalid. The nomination papers are due by August 9. The election will be held during the general election on Nov. 5 and can be found on the county ballot. However, if on August 9 there are only two candidates, an election may not take place. “If we have two vacancies and two candidates, the city code allows for an appointment,” said Nessler. All those interested in running are urged to contact Blue Lake City Hall at (707) 668-5655. Many issues affecting the City of Blue Lake and its residents will be addressed at tonight’s City Council meeting. Ricca is sponsoring a discussion on the relationship between the city and the Blue Lake Rancheria regarding the newly opened casino. The meeting takes place tonight at 7:30 p.m. Home