Kari McPherson was welcomed to the City Council race with open arms by all four of her competitors after to correct a city error.
McPherson was thrilled about the court ruling. “It was the bright spot in my day,” she said.
The 42-year-old mother of five has become increasingly involved in school and civic issues since moving to Coronado in 2008. Last year she co-chaired the Village Elementary School Artisan’s Alley Crafts Fair and ran in the Valentine’s Day 10K, which benefits the Islander Sports Foundation and the Stephen J. Wampler Foundation.
She decided to protect the city’s natural and financial resources. “I intended to keep our beaches clean with a non-commercialized family atmosphere that protects our historic dunes and wildlife habitat (and) keep parks green and full of activity,” she said.
She also said that she was committed to “controlling city expenses and pension benefits [as well as to an] open municipal government which is accountable to the people.”
McPherson had been excluded from the contest because City Clerk Linda Hascup misread an e-mail notice from the Country Registrar of Voters and told McPherson she had qualified when she had not.
She had failed to gather the necessary signatures to run. When the error was found it was too late for McPherson to gather additional signatures. The court order cleared the way for the county to accept her supplemental signatures.
She learned of the ruling Thursday, when Hascup called “to inform [her] and to make amends.”
The other candidates in McPherson's race supported her entry.
“I’m happy the city was able to work it out,” said challenger Richard Bailey. “The more people that come to the table to discuss the issues the better. This decision was good for the people as well.”
“Glad they were able to correct the City of Coronado’s error,” said another challenger, Susan Keith, a former council member who is seeking a return to the panel. While she doesn't know McPherson, Keith “welcomed her to the race.”
Incumbent Councilman Mike Woiwode noted that all of the candidates were asked if they objected to McPherson’s name going on the ballot.
“None of us did,” he said.
The final candidate, Jean Roesch, was philosophical about the mix up. “It was just an oversight, these things happen,” she said.
This story was amended to correct the spelling of McPherson's first name in the first paragraph.
