Council Incumbent Andy Wilson, Challenger Phil Hosp Prepare for April Showdown

Two Pasadena City Council candidates are gearing up for an April 18 showdown, and a surprise winner in the Pasadena Unified School District race is cool, collected and “not surprised” following her upset victory in Tuesday’s election.

Phil Hosp will take on incumbent District 7 Councilmember Andy Wilson in a runoff as both candidates finished with just under the 50 % + 1 required to win outright — with Wilson grabbing 44.03% and Hosp taking 41.63%.

Hosp is a securities fraud attorney. Wilson is a technology entrepreneur who was appointed to the City Council after Mayor Terry Tornek’s victory opened up the District 7 seat.

The actual number of votes which separated Hosp and Wilson on Tuesday was a slim 58, although that number may change before the final vote count is certified in 30 days.

“Even though our sense is that several hundred absentee ballots got delivered to the polling places,” Wilson said Wednesday, “It’s more than likely we’re going into a runoff, so, keeping core supporters and energizing our volunteers, and making sure we have the enthusiastic support of voters and our key backers, I think that is the key to getting us through the next six weeks.”

Wilson continued, “I think as much as we were hoping to avoid a runoff, we’re not surprised. We were hoping to get to 50%, but when you look at five people on a ballot, that would be a best case scenario. Certainly Hosp has run an aggressive campaign, and that’s going to keep us on our game, but I certainly believe with the support that we have and the hard work that we have done, that will take us over the top.”

Speaking with regard to the current issues, Wilson said, “ I think we are going to continue to be ‘slow growth,’ while Hosp seems to be pushing a ‘no growth’ policy. I think moderation makes more sense for the City, which is what we have been talking about. We’re not ‘pro-growth,’ that’s for sure.”

“The residents of Pasadena voted for change, and so we feel good,” said Hosp Wednesday. “The next month is going to be like it was the last six months, and that is that this is going to be about development, and I think that residents are very concerned that development is out of control, and I think that most residents know that I am the candidate to follow that issue.”

Hosp also noted that the City’s projected budget deficit will be a strong issue during the runoff campaign.

“Even the Mayor noted that we are going to have to start looking at personnel costs,” Hosp pointed out. “I also think that revenue sharing agreements should be revisited, for example, the revenue sharing agreement we have with the Pasadena Convention Center. That agreement was reached before a lot of these new hotels went in, and so I think that the Transit Occupancy tax that is generated, some of that revenue should be re-directed back to the City’s General Fund.”

Asked if he would look at pension arrangements and CALPIRG costs, in an effort to reduce the budget deficit, Hosp said, “Well, we’ve made a lot of promises to people and I don’t think we want to go back on them. The goal is to look at arrangements we make in the future.”

Meanwhile, newcomer Michelle Richardson-Bailey, a surprising and decisive winner over Adrienne Ann Mullen for the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Third District seat, was serene as she scoffed at the idea that the victory might have been a surprise to her.

“I was absolutely not surprised,” she said Wednesday. “I feel great, and I am humbled to have been chosen. ”

Richardson-Bailey said she began her campaigning last summer, long before the official campaign season had begun.

The longtime PUSD classified employee, who will be officially retiring from the District May 5, noted her own “years of commitment to the school district,” and said that voters recognized her “ability to connect with people.”

“People can expect the same commitment to service that I had as an employee of the district, when I am on the school board,” she added.

Asked about a message to the school community going forward, Richardson-Bailey said, “I would tell people not to believe the negative hype about the PUSD. It’s a great school district. Bring your kids here!”