Santa Rosa Planning Commissioner Curtis Byrd announced Thursday that he is running for City Council in 2014.
Byrd, 57, is a community relations specialist for Blood Centers of the Pacific.
He is a native Santa Rosan who graduated from Cardinal Newman High School. He went on to receive his bachelor's degree from Sonoma State University and is currently pursuing a master's degree in divinity studies at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley.
Byrd was appointed to the Planning Commission in 2010 by Councilman Gary Wysocky. He has previously served on the mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force policy team and the Community Advisory Board.
"I am prepared to make tough budget decisions to create sustainable jobs, improve our roads, green up our parks, provide clean power to ratepayers, advocate for affordable housing and clean up code violations," Byrd said in a statement.
Other priorities he noted include annexing Roseland, dealing with the city's huge pension debt, and building a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Highway 101.
He is the second candidate to announce his intent to run for the City Council next year. The other is former Press Democrat columnist Chris Coursey.
Three of the seven council seats are open in 2014. They are currently held by Mayor Scott Bartley, Jake Ours, and Robin Swinth.
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