Zuma Jay Will Not Run for Re-Election

For the first time in eight years, an eligible incumbent has decided not to run for re-election to the .  confirmed with Malibu Patch Friday morning a rumor that had been swirling through the city this week—he will not seek a second term.

Wagner said the decision was about time and money. He said he spends about 16 to 18 hours per week preparing for council meetings by reading agenda materials and speaking with people. This was taking away from his time as the  concessionaire and as an explosives training contractor with the U.S. military, and he could not afford the financial losses.

"It was a choice between staying alive fiscally or being at the city," Wagner said. "Time would not allow me to carry on both."

He continued, "I couldn't do this again, and give this city the time it needs. Anybody that's coming into this office, I hope they realize that they're going to have to put that same effort into the job, otherwise it's too easy to depend on your henchmen and handlers because inevitably you wind up asking the opinions of the people that supported you and asking the opinions of the people who will support you if you run again. And that shouldn't be what your decisions are based upon. Decisions should be based upon what's best for the city in its entirety."

Wagner said he would remain involved in city activism and might run for council in another election. 

He said he had not endorsed any candidates, although he signed the nomination papers for John Sibert, Joan House and Skylar Peak. Wagner said he would like to hear how those candidates speak on various issues at the forums before deciding whether to give them his official endorsement.

Wagner will be the first one-term council member since Tom Hasse, who chose not to run for re-election in 2002. The last eligible incumbent not to run was , who declined to seek a fourth consecutive term in 2004.

Interestingly, House is in this year's race. She and incumbent became official candidates on Friday when the county registrar confirmed they had at least 20 signatures from registered Malibu voters on their nomination papers. Third-generation Malibu resident  became the first official candidate last week.

Other potential candidates are former Council member , Commissioner , Bobby Heyward, Jack Utter, "Malibu" Hamish "The Illusion" Patterson and . They have until Wednesday to submit their nomination papers to City Hall

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story stated Skylar Peak had submitted his nomination papers. He has not done that.