Just One Incumbent Among 18 Vying for Pasadena Council : Elections: Four seats will be contested in March vote. Candidates stress that city leaders need to work better together after years of political infighting.

With William Paparian the only incumbent running for reelection in March, the field vying for four seats on the Pasadena City Council looks like the start of the Los Angeles Marathon.

The 18 candidates who have signed up to run seem to agree the new council must present a united front to improve Pasadena’s image after four years of hostilities.

“We’ve got to change the perception of this council and the city,” said Mark R. Nay, 37, an architect and chairman of the city design commission. He is a candidate for the seat being vacated by Councilman Rick Cole.

The decisions not to run by Cole, Mayor Kathryn Nack and Councilman Isaac Richard, who had ignited many of the council’s verbal clashes, have thrown open the seven-member council to newcomers.

Seeking to replace Richard in representing largely minority, relatively low-income Northwest Pasadena area are Porfirio J. Frausto, owner of a landscaping business and an affirmative action commissioner; Saundra Lewis Knox, Pasadena Neighborhood Housing executive director; Joyce Streator, a former council field representative, and Shaman Akabar, a teacher.

All of the candidates cite public safety, economic development and constituent services as key issues.

A recent health survey here “found the No. 1 health problem wasn’t sexually transmitted diseases but violence. And violence is the result of unemployment and lack of education,” said Frausto, 41, a community activist who in addition to running a business, works as Blair High School’s football coach. He said economic development and public safety go hand-in-hand and is advocating a partnership among the city, the schools and businesses to tackle problems and create jobs.

Knox, a former teacher and a 15-year veteran of city commissions, agrees that economic development is the way to tackle the district’s problems. She said she has the experience to help, having managed the $4-million budget of a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to neighborhood revitalization.

Streator, former field representative for Councilman Chris Holden and an ex-county probation director, is emphasizing her record as a fighter for district needs.

“I’ll restore some calm and reason to the City Council,” Streator said, alluding to Richard’s temperamental style. Akabar promises to push for use of technology and education to make the citizens of the district more productive.

Voters in Cole’s district will choose from among six men in what is shaping up as a battle of neighborhood groups.

“I’m a neighborhood advocate, and I was concerned the two people championing family issues were leaving the council so I decided to run,” said Paul Little, 39, communications coordinator for Pasadena’s Pacific Asia Museum and a founder of the Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood Assn. On the council, he said, he would continue his work as an advocate for safer neighborhoods, fighting alcohol abuse and youth programs.

Similarly, Nay, a former president of Hill Avenue Neighborhood Assn. and an architect active in the business community, said he will be a bridge builder in City Hall and between the neighborhood groups and local businesses, which often have different interests. His campaign and Knox’s are managed by veteran political activist Tim Brick, who previously ran successful campaigns for Richard and Cole.

Planning Commission Vice Chair Doug Robertson, 35, an architect, said his real issue is making things better for young people. “The debate is always about public safety, but I think it’s really about prevention.”

Ted Brown said he is a Libertarian who will reduce the size and cost of city government by cutting, contracting out and privatizing many services.

By contrast, James Lomoko, 47, a city human relations commissioner, said he wants the city to take a more active approach in attracting businesses and is calling for improvements to the Allen Avenue/Washington Avenue business area, more police and a city hot line for answers to questions about services. Closing out the field is Jim Brownfield, a teacher at Cal State Los Angeles

Paparian, a 45-year-old attorney seeking a third four-year term, is being challenged by June Takenouchi, a Republican activist, realtor and president of the East Orange Grove Neighborhood Assn.

Six candidates are competing to succeed Nack to represent an affluent area on the west side of the city.

Katherine Padilla, former chairwoman of the Library Commission and wife of school board member George Padilla, led the successful drive for a city library assessment last year. She said she will use her skills as a public affairs consultant to negotiate issues.

Bill York, chairman of the Planning Commission, is emphasizing his experience as a manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of a $20-million budget and his efforts as a neighborhood leader.

Jack Smith, owner of California Basket Co. in Old Pasadena and former president of the Old Pasadena Business & Professional Assn., said the council has micromanaged city affairs. “I’m a small business owner and I don’t chastise employees in front of others.”

Fred G. Zepeda, vice president of a real estate company and former member of the Rose Bowl Operating Company Board, said his top priority is public safety. He was actively involved in the committee that helped pass the bond for the building of a new police station.

Ann-Marie Villicana, a realtor, said she would bring new leadership and restore the council’s tradition of efficiency and respect.

Jessica Rehg Susnar, an event coordinator and volunteer with the Junior League of Pasadena, said Pasadena does not want career politicians and she will represent the people rather than use the position as a steppingstone.