Imperial Valley Press

One More Day Left to File For Elections
Five Candidates Now in Field for Three Seats on El Centro Board: Latest Register as Independents
- By E. A. FITZHUGH
The overture was finished and the curtain went up Friday on El Centro's April 9 municipal election campaign.
A petition was filed at the city clerk's office nominating John R. Robertson, automobile dealer, for city councilman. Another was to be filed within a few hours listing John B. (Big John) McNeece, service station operator, as a candidate.
They entered the lists against the competition of Wesley Heil, Charles Bratton and Bob Hatton, selected earlier in the week as the Taxpayers Association slate.
Only one more day, Saturday, remained in which potential candidates could file nominating petitions.
Sponsors' names on Robertson's nominating petition led to the belief he entered the campaign as a business man's candidate. The sponsors were J. Duke Johnson, M. O. King, James Shofield, Louis B. McManus, W. Harold Tyler, M. D. Zinn, Herbert L. Anderson, M M. Horton, Jim Carson and Paul Jenkins.
Claim Independence
McNeece's candidacy will come under the same category, it was believed, since his nominating petition was circulated by Herbert L. Anderson, who signed Robertson's petition.
Both Robertson and McNeece said they were running as independent candidates, not on any ticket.
Both men refused to voice any election promises, and both denied any obligations.
"I am interested in a good, clean business administration," Robertson said. "If anyone is interested in reducing taxes, it is I. My own tax contribution to the city is big. It would be only good business for me if the council could reduce taxes.
"If I am elected, it will be my policy to consult with the people at all times, asking their advice and help. I realize this is not a one-man job—it is a job for everyone in the city, and the man who is elected should do what they want done. I am not making any promises, and I'm not under obligation to anybody, either in or out of the present city administration."
Detail Study
McNeece, also, declared in favor of a complete business administration.
"If I go in," he said, "I want to consider the city's business just as I do my own. Right now I can't make any promises—I'll have to find out in detail how the city business operates before I'll be qualified to act. I wouldn't make a move in my own business without studying all the possibilities. I wouldn't want to treat the city's business any differently
"A man would be foolish to say, 'I'll do thus-and-so,' and then find out he can't do it. I want to find out what I can do before I say what I will do. All I can promise is that I'll consider the city's business from a strictly business standpoint, if I'm elected."
While the city council lists were being drawn, those for the city clerk's office remained comparatively open.
Neal Cavin and Mrs. Pearl Burke had already filed nominating petitions. Rudolph Frowiss and C. B. Kilgore were still potential candidates, with nominating petitions out but not filed.
A. H. Keller had filed for city treasurer and a petition was being circulated for Howard Soper that probably will be filed late Friday.