Italy: Ron Feinsod will not seek second term as Venice mayor

Earle Kimel

Venice: Mayor Ron Feinsod said Friday that he will not seek a second term on the Venice City Council, creating an opening for other candidates to seek the post during qualifying week August 22-26.

Nick Pachota, who is currently vice mayor, filed to move from Seat 5 to run for the mayor’s slot earlier this year.

Feinsod said in a phone interview that: “I’ve addressed every issue I originally ran on and at this point I can accomplish more from the outside than I can from the inside.”

With four of the seven council seats could be up for grabs, Venice voters can dramatically reshape a council that has drawn fire in recent months for approving new land development regulations that were opposed by a majority of people who spoke at the public hearings and workshops before their final approval July 12 on a 5-0 vote.

Ron Feinsod said that he will not seek a second term on the Venice City Council because he can contribute more from the outside.

Feinsod has already shaped this year’s election after he researched the city charter and suggested that the disappointed residents gather signatures to petition to seek a repeal of those regulations in a citywide referendum on the November 2023 ballot.

“The citizens’ referendum is moving forward very quickly with a tremendous amount of public support and I know that the people who are running for office are going to have to take a stand on what their positions are on the main concerns of the citizens of Venice,” Feinsod said.

Pachota and fellow incumbent Council Member Rachel Frank, are both on this year’s ballot, with Frank shifting from her appointed position in Seat 2 to run for Seat 6.

Meanwhile, Dick Longo has filed to run for the one-year term remaining for Seat 2 and two new candidates – Rick Howard and Ron Smith – have filed to fill Seat 5.