3 seek to replace Barich on Cotati City Council

<p>When Cotati voters decide in November whether to oust City Councilman George Barich, they'll have a choice of three candidates to replace him.</p><p>Planning commissioners Linell Hardy and Susan Harvey, and school board member Eric Kirchmann will be on the ballot to finish Barich's remaining term if he is recalled.</p><p>Hardy was appointed to the commission by Mayor John Guardino and Harvey — who ran against Barich in 2008 — was appointed by Councilwoman Janet Orchard. Kirchmann is a longtime member of the Cotati-Rohnert Park school board.</p><p>Harvey and Kirchmann ran for council last year.</p><p>“I love our city,” said Harvey, 53, a former information technology manager. “It needs help and good leadership.”</p><p>Neither Hardy, 56, nor Kirchmann, 54, returned calls Wednesday or Thursday.</p><p>Thursday was the deadline for entering the race. The election is Nov. 17.</p><p>Barich is facing recall over a series of controversies that began shortly after he took office in December. The longtime gadfly was elected in November by a five-vote margin.</p><p>First, the 51-year-old fiscal conservative incited colleagues on the liberal panel with his unauthorized use of official stationery to write President Barack Obama, criticizing the federal stimulus package as wasteful.</p><p>Next Barich engaged in a time-consuming dispute with city administrators over his use of the city seal on his personal Web site.</p><p>At one point, he posted a picture of himself in black makeup and an Afro wig over the seal, which contains a picture of an Indian chief.</p><p>Minority groups called the picture racist and demanded Barich step down. </p><p>Barich, who is white, said it wasn't offensive. The avid karaoke singer said it was taken at Halloween, when he dressed as a soul music performer.</p><p>After the council issued Barich an official rebuke in May, he wrote a lukewarm apology for “giving the wrong impression.” </p><p>Barich, a video security contractor, was later criticized for racking up legal fees in his seal dispute and for casting the lone vote that blocked a half-cent sales tax from being placed on the ballot. City managers said Cotati is nearly broke and will run out of money before the end of the year.</p><p>Recall proponents began gathering signatures this summer and the election was certified last month. It is expected to cost taxpayers up to $20,000.</p><p>At the polls, voters will respond with a yes or no to the recall question. It will be decided by a simple majority. If the recall is successful, the replacement candidate will be the top vote-getter. The term will expire in 2012.</p><p>There are 3,983 registered voters in the city.</p><p>Barich didn't return a call Thursday. </p><p>John Moore, leader of the recall, said any of the three candidates would be an improvement over Barich.</p><p>“He's polarized the whole council,” said Moore, whose wife was on the panel for four years. “Nothing's getting done but the friggin' George show.”</p>