3 SEEK 2 SEATS ON CITY COUNCIL INCUMBENTS SEEM IN GOOD POSITION.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Three people filed papers by Friday's deadline to run for two seats on the City Council, a far lower turnout than usual in elections past.

Henry Schultz, 58, a research scientist who resides in Saugus, is seeking to unseat Mayor Bob Kellar or Mayor Pro Tem Cameron Smyth in the April 13 election.

``I'm disappointed no one else is running,'' Schultz said Friday.

City Clerk Sharon Dawson said she received no phone calls or any interest by the 5 p.m. deadline.

Schultz said he had expected at least one more person to run, to perhaps form a stronger alliance against the two incumbents.

``There were a lot of people running in the last election,'' Schultz said, referring to the 2000 election, when more than 10 candidates ran. ``People are afraid to run against Cameron (Smyth) and Bob (Kellar). The trouble is they are all locked in the same money.''

In the 2000 election, Smyth and Kellar became a powerhouse duo, each surpassing the $50,000 mark in campaign funding, both having the largest campaign accounts. The two endorsed each other for two nonpartisan council seats.

Smyth and Kellar said it is too early to tell whether they will endorse one another again.

They also said they were surprised more candidates were not in the running, but both also hope the low interest means that the voters and residents are satisfied with their work on the council.

``If that is the case, then I am delighted,'' Kellar said. ``I would hope that would be the case. I honestly thought we would have our usual 10 or 12 candidates.''

A fund-raiser for Kellar's re-election was to be held Friday. He said he would run on a platform similar to the last one.

``I made a commitment to voters last time and frankly, I'm hoping to stay with that,'' he said.

Smyth has already accrued $40,000 for his campaign, he said Friday.

``I would like to think I worked very hard in the last four years in this Valley,'' he said ``I would like to think people are pleased.' There's still more work to be done, to continue the efforts.''

Though Smyth has expressed interest in pursuing a political career beyond the Santa Clarita City Council, he said his priority will be as a councilman.

``My sole focus is the Santa Clarita City Council,'' he said.

Schultz, the chairman of the Sierra Club in Santa Clarita, believes his platform of slow growth will attract voters who are weary of development.

``I'm not a developer stooge,'' Schultz said. ``I'm not anti-development. I'm a slow-growth-er. But I do support smart development.''

Schultz's previous experience in city government includes four years as a parks and recreation commissioner and three years on the Transportation Advisory Committee.

``I'd like to enforce the five acres park per 1,000 residents that's part of our Master Plan that we never evoke,'' he said. ``That's a critical issue. I want to bring in Placerita Nature Center. One of my goals is to annex the project and acquiring Elsmere Canyon.''

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com