14 IN RUN TO HELP STEER CITY FAMILIAR NAMES OUT FRONT.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - A former mayor, a corrections officer, a parks commissioner and two incumbents are among the Santa Clarita residents vying for three open seats on the City Council.

Fourteen candidates will face off in the April 9 nonpartisan election for seats on the five-member council. Some are well known, while others are stepping onto Santa Clarita's political stage for the first time.

Mayor Frank Ferry and Councilwoman Laurene Weste will face challengers who said they are running because the community is disenchanted with city politics. Councilwoman Jo Anne Darcy will not seek re-election.

The strongest challenger is considered by many to be former Mayor Jan Heidt, who decided to come out of retirement after a political firestorm erupted over the city's budget and trash contracts.

Other front-runners include Newhall resident Marsha McLean, who hopes her third bid for the council will be the charm; Parks and Recreation Commissioner Duane Harte, who wants to put his years of experience to work on the council; and Saugus resident John Grannis, who is the most conservative candidate in the race.

If history holds true, all will have a difficult time defeating Weste or Ferry. Only two incumbents have been defeated - Jill Klajic and Dennis Koontz - in the city's 14-year history. Both lost by narrow margins.

Other challengers include Jan Bilson, 46, of Canyon Country, who said he decided to run after being irked by the closed-door meetings held by the council and by council members' support of Santa Clarita's large developers.

Lee Rich, 32, of Valencia is running to represent the city's young families and residents and to encourage more of a nightlife in Santa Clarita.

``I'm the same age as most of the people who live up here, and I know what this community needs,'' Rich said.

Michael Hainline, 51, of Canyon Country is a corrections officer in the Antelope Valley. If elected, he said he would work to reduce congestion and put more police on the street.

David Albee, 47, of Canyon Country said he would focus on making sure adequate infrastructure accompanied growth and development while youths were protected in the city.

Mario Matute, 43, of Canyon Country said he would bring a new, different and fresh approach to the City Council.

Ron Nolan, 43, of Saugus was the last person to file for the election. Nolan is a worker's compensation attorney with offices in Stevenson Ranch. Nolan was also a candidate for the inaugural City Council in 1987, he said.

This is Valencia resident Dennis Conn's fourth try for the City Council. Each time, he has pledged to eliminate left-turn signals and to create a special district along state Highway 126 where theme parks would cater to children and seniors as well as professionals who work under stressful conditions, including physicians, attorneys and air-traffic controllers.

John Steffen of Saugus ran for the council the first time in 2000, but is a familiar presence at meetings, where he often inveighs against the death penalty. Steffen has sued the city for not allowing him to speak at council meetings and was arrested for threatening a councilwoman.

``I have a lot to give to the City Council,'' Steffen said. ``I want to represent logic.''

COUNCIL CANDIDATES

Candidates for the Santa Clarita City Council election on April 9, 2002:

David Albee, Canyon Country

Jan Bilson, Canyon Country

Dennis Conn, Valencia

* Frank Ferry, Valencia

Michael Hainline, Canyon Country

Jan Heidt, Sand Canyon

Duane Harte, Newhall

John Grannis, Saugus

Mario Matute, Canyon Country

Marsha McLean, Newhall

Ron Nolan, Saugus

Lee Rich, Valencia

John Steffen, Saugus

* Laurene Weste, Placerita Canyon

* incumbents

Source: City of Santa Clarita

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COUNCIL CANDIDATES (see text)