KLAJIC WON'T RUN FOR COUNCIL; COUNCILWOMAN HOPES `FRESH FACE' WILL CARRY ON.

Byline: Angela M. Lemire Staff Writer

Councilwoman Jill Klajic - who largely fought development with her outspokenness and a minority City Council voice - will not seek re-election in the April 11 council race, but plans to launch a voter initiative to curb development, she said Monday.

Klajic, 53, said her decision not to run again did not stem from the council's decision two weeks ago to pass her over for the one-year mayoral appointment in favor of Mayor Jo Anne Darcy. Rather, she wants to vacate her seat in April to bring fresh views to the City Council, she said.

``I never intended to be a career politician,'' Klajic said. ``I've always thought of it as more as a form of community service. . . . I've always pushed for term limits because I think you should give new people a chance to represent their community.''

She added, ``It's time for me to give somebody new that chance.''

Two at-large, nonpartisan seats held by Councilwomen Klajic and Jan Heidt are up for election in the April race. Terms held by Councilman Frank Ferry and Councilwomen Laurene Weste and Darcy will expire in April 2002. Candidates have until 4 p.m. Jan. 14 to return nomination papers, or until 5 p.m. on Jan. 19 if no incumbents file for re-election.

Councilwoman Heidt - a three-time mayor and City Council member since Santa Clarita earned cityhood in 1987 - expects to announce whether she will seek re-election after the New Year, she said Monday, declining further comment on considerations influencing her decision.

Klajic, a resident of Santa Clarita for 22 years, has served two nonconsecutive four-year terms on the City Council and a one-year turn as mayor in 1993. After losing her first re-election bid in 1994, she returned to the council in 1996 as the top vote-getter in that election.

Much speculation had surrounded Klajic's intentions since the City Council two weeks ago reorganized its one-year leadership positions, and reappointed Darcy to a fourth term and first-term Councilwoman Laurene Weste as mayor pro tem. Heidt's substitute motions to appoint Klajic to those positions failed 2-3. The vote was the first contested mayoral appointment in the city's 12-year history.

But Klajic says the most recent political skirmish nearly convinced her to stay on - not step down. She initially resolved several months ago not to seek another term, but reconsidered after constituents urged her to continue representing their slow-growth views, she said.

She also had personal reasons for leaving.

``I have a grandchild who I want to spend more time with, and I have a new job,'' said Klajic, who recently began working as a public relations specialist for a company that manages retirement communities.

She plans to continue her community involvement on other levels, including other government boards and commissions.

And Klajic hopes to continue her fight against rapid residential growth by organizing a petition drive and special ballot measure that would require the city of Santa Clarita to bring every new residential development before a vote of the people.

Klajic knows of no candidate so far in the April municipal election who would pick up where she left off, she said, but she encourages a ``fresh face'' to resume her role because she believes most residents share her views.

Three potential candidates so far have taken out nomination papers for the coming City Council race: Eileen Connolly, 45, a 10-year Saugus school board member and former board president; Rein Schuerger, 39, a Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant and unsuccessful City Council candidate in 1996; and Cameron Smyth, 28, deputy chief of staff to state Sen. William J. ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale, and an unsuccessful City Council candidate in 1998. Smyth also is the son of former Councilman Clyde Smyth.