Mass exodus brings new ideas and inexperienced politicians.

Four years ago, the Monterey City Council had more than 100 cumulative years in office among them. After the November elections, regardless of who wins, it’ll have all of eight.

“I’ve heard from a lot of people that they’re concerned,” says Councilman Jeff Haferman, who brings two years of experience to the dais. “But this kind of turnover can be a very good thing because it can bring a lot of fresh, new ideas—a whole new dynamic.”

Like Haferman, Councilwoman Libby Downey has two years of experience, while mayoral candidate and Councilman Chuck Della Sala has four.

In addition to losing longtime councilmembers and perennial mayor Dan Albert, the City is also losing important staff like longtime Community Development Director Bill Wojtkowski and Director of Public Facilities Carl Anderson.

None of the council candidates on the November ballot have any elected office experience, yet all three have backgrounds that could prove useful. Frank Sollecito’s 32 years on the Monterey police force could prove beneficial in dealing with the police department’s current staffing crisis. Ralph Widmar is the founder of a telecommunications consulting firm. He has logged years on the Architectural Review Board and is currently serving as planning commissioner. Nancy Selfridge, a Peninsula schoolteacher and historic preservationist, has contributed a great deal to her neighborhood association and the cultural arts commission.

Yet longtime neighborhood advocate and political watchdog Richard Rucello calls the current trend “very unsettling” and worries that the candidates’ lack of experience will handicap the council and undo much of the work that his good friend and 20-year city government veteran Clyde Roberson has done. Rucello says he’s only endorsing one candidate this year: Sollecito.

“I’ve been called by candidates on all sides for endorsements,” Ruccello says. “I ask them questions. The most shocking answer I get is silence. When I ask them why they voted this way or that way and all I get is silence, ‘I’m a neighborhood advocate’ means nothing to me.”

Haferman disagrees, pointing out that all of the candidates have valuable experience and that they’ll learn quickly.

“We’ll have a good council no matter what. It’s not bad, just new,” Haferman says. “Libby [Downey] and I had to learn very quickly and so will they.”