2 MORE INTEND TO RUN FOR COUNCIL SEAT.

Byline: Romy Jacobson Daily News Staff Writer

Former Mayor George Root and radio station executive assistant Tony Bracy have taken out papers to run for a two-year council seat in the April 14 City Council election.

Root's and Bracy's action brought to eight the number of potential candidates for the mayoral post and three council seats.

Bracy, 35, is an executive assistant at Antelope Valley Broadcasting Co., which operates stations KAVS-FM (97.7) and KAVL-AM (610). Bracy has lived in Lancaster for two years and volunteers at the Lancaster Senior Center.

Bracy is one of the founders of the Los Angeles-based Institute of Young Black Leadership and of the North Hollywood-based Color Your Dreams Acting Academy for children.

Bracy believes in establishing more activities in Lancaster for young people to ``let them know they have a stake in the future in the development of Lancaster.''

``I've decided Lancaster is going to be my home. I'm interested in the development of the city and the redevelopment of certain areas,'' Bracy said.

A mobile-home park activist who lobbied for a city rent arbitration law, Root served on the Lancaster City Council from 1990 until 1994 and was mayor in 1992. He campaigned unsuccessfully for a return to the council in 1996.

Root retired in 1993 as operations manager for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory facility at Edwards Air Force Base. Root has been involved in raising funds for charities, including the March of Dimes and the Lancaster Education Foundation.

Root believes it is important to have a City Council that will work together.

``I think the present City Council is in a turmoil,'' Root said. ``They won't compromise at all. You can't have a council that's locked into a myopic agenda.''

Nomination papers also have been taken out by Mayor Frank Roberts, Vice Mayor Henry Hearns and Councilwoman Deborah Shelton. Councilman Michael Singer said he will announce his intentions at some point after the holidays.

Papers also have been taken out by Lancaster School District trustee Andrew Visokey; Michelle Idleman, a Los Angeles County Probation Department gang-prevention officer; and by Walter R. Briggs Jr.

Candidates have until Jan. 16 to return papers. If any of the four incumbents fails to return papers by that date, the deadline will be extended to Jan. 21.