4th Ward update

As of late this afternoon, there are five potential candidates who have pulled papers to replace Neil Derry on the City Council.

However, one of the candidates, Manfred F. Gildner, said today that he will probably not appear on the ballot.

"I think I've decided not to run," he said. "I'm 82 and I just don't want to fool around anymore."

They remaining four candidates are Joe Arnett, Saman Saman, Fred Shorett and John Valdivia II.

Shorett has already been introduced to SB Now readers. He was the first potential candidate to emerge for the special election. Arnett, Sama and Valdivia will receive their own introductions in separate blog posts today.

The nomination period began on Dec. 18 and is scheduled to conclude on Jan. 8. The election is scheduled for March 17 as a mail-in affair.