As the race heats up for the two open seats on the Hermosa Beach City Council, two-term Councilmember Michael DiVirgilio announced Thursday he will not be seeking re-election.
“With life in Hermosa Beach improved on so many fronts, the time has come for me to share the role with emerging leaders,” wrote DiVirgilio. “It has been an honor representing one of the world’s greatest small cities and a pleasure working with so many brilliant community members and city professionals.”
DiVirgilio, an upstate New York native who moved to Hermosa in 1999, served the city for 12 years, eight as a councilman and mayor and his earlier years as chairman of the city’s public works commission. In his statement, he said among his proudest achievements are the resolution of the Macpherson Oil lawsuit and fulfilling promises to upgrade streets, redevelop the upper pier, launch carbon neutrality and create a lasting partnership with the school district.
“As my family pursues new possibilities, I will remain committed to critical issues in town and enjoy watching our city under new leadership,” he wrote.
Ken Hartley, chairman of Hermosa’s Chamber of Commerce and small business owner, is the latest to pull papers from the city clerk’s office with the intent of running for an open council seat this fall. He joins a fleet of five other hopefuls, all of whom pulled papers within two days of the nomination period — Pete Tucker, a three-term council incumbent, former councilmen Jeff Duclos and Howard Fishman, and newcomers Trent Larson, a pro-business and pro-oil advocate, and Justin Massey, an environmental attorney who was active in the “No on O” effort.
The deadline for pulling and filing is next Friday. With DiVirgilio out of the mix, the deadline may be extended to the following Wednesday, Aug. 12, if incumbent Tucker does not return nomination papers by the original deadline.
In other news, Karen Nowicki, who was elected in 2013 to finish up former treasurer David Cohn’s term after he resigned, has pulled papers to re-run for a full term. City Clerk Elaine Doerfling is also seeking re-election.
