European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 26, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine my Bobbt Clint Eastwood addresses a group in his quest for mayor of Carmel by the sea Calif. Political role for up photo by Ellis e. Conklin United press International he has made his movies and his , pushing 56, Clint Eastwood wants the4,825 residents of Carmel-by-the-sea,Calif., to make his Day. On april 8, Eastwood wants them to Crown him mayor of the Cypress swept Village. After More than 20 years As it s Premier resident he wants to govern the one Square mile town that years ago banned Neon lights live music in the pubs and playing Frisbee in the Parks All in the name of preserving the aesthetic climate that once attracted the literary likes of Jack London Lincoln Steffens and Robinson Jeffers. In an act of dirty Harry like Defiance Eastwood said that if he wins he will spend the very next Day with the colonists children hurling Frisbee across Picarelli Park in a symbolic gesture of liberation. Eastwood part owner of the Village s most popular tourist attraction the hog s breath inn said the Well ordered Paradise that has no House numbers no mail delivery and no sidewalks or curbs in residential areas is stagnating and has acted irrationally in trying to control growth. In the 60s, when i was doing movies in Europe people would say Carmel what a great place to be airy now everyone wonders what s going wrong Here Eastwood said recently shortly before leaving his Campaign Headquarters for an afternoon round of door to door politicking. There s a Guy i met yesterday and he was telling me about this Pink striped awning he had out in front of his business for 35 years Eastwood recalled. Anyway it fell apart and so he decided to replace it with a Green and White awning since All the other businesses near him had that color. And so he puts it up and then the City comes Down screaming and Yelling since he did t get a permit. They actually threatened him with a $50-a-Day Fine until he got the permit. Does that sound Petty to you these people Are so out of tune with the Public. Well it s just amazing. I think you can be pro resident and pro business at the same time Eastwood said. Before entering the contest in mid february Eastwood commissioned an Orange county polling firm to calculate his popularity and to find out what issues Are on the minds of the 4,100 registered voters. Eastwood who plans to spend about $25,000 to $30,000 most of it from the pro business Carmel property owners association also hired sue Hutchinson a professional Campaign consultant from los Angeles who has handled a variety of Republican races throughout the state. The Carmel mayoral contest has shaped up to be a Black and White affair. Good Guys and bad Guys. Wednesday March 26, 1986 proponents of development is. Residents fiercely clinging to their no growth Village traditions. In what City councilman Dave Maxadai termed the wildest year in Carmel s history four candidates Are waging a Battle to win the non partisan contest for mayor a Job that pays $200 a month in a town whose City manager wields most of the Day to Day Power. The race is considered a tossup Between Eastwood and incumbent mayor Charlotte Townsend a lifetime resident who lives in her childhood Home. Finishing a four year term the regal looking Townsend has carved out a reputation As a trustee of Carmel s past. She is an outspoken advocate for those residents who have thrown out All fast food franchises last year leases on the Swensen s ice Cream store and the Orange Julius outlet were not renewed and who still resent intrusions the business Community has made in altering the Village s bucolic character. Townsend said she will spend less than $2,000 to win re election. On the opposite Side of the political Ledger is Paul Laub the Semi serious third candidate and owner of Laub s country store. Calling himself the local hero Laub wants to build a parking garage As Eastwood does something Townsend bitterly opposes. And like Eastwood he wants fewer building restrictions More Public toilets a shuttle bus for tourists and More hotel units. Laub who has spent $69 on his Campaign so far May not win the race but hell make a profit on it. For weeks he has been Selling Laub for mayor to shirts. With each $11.95 shirt residents and tourists also get a free Eastwood for mayor to shirt. Business before anything else Laub said with a smile. Finally there is candidate no. 4. Tim Grady an Art gallery Salesman is running As a full bore environmentalist. Eastwood s entry into the race underscores the tensions that Divide this land of native Pines and sheltering Oaks. For decades the financial balance of Power has swung Back and Forth Between business people i any of whom live in neighbouring Pebble Beach Pacific Grove and Monterey and the residents whose average age is 51. Nearly 52 percent of them Are retired. But the business Community is on the Warpath now yearning to return to the 1950s when new motels glittery gift shops and virtually unimpeded new building reigned supreme. The tone of the political rhetoric Borders on the cataclysmic. This election will set the tone for the next 10 years Townsend said. Seldom have we had a Campaign so Clear Cut. It s residentially oriented people is. The monies Developer in City Hall. Both these men Eastwood and Laub Are absolute threats to our lifestyle. You know local government has always been very quiet and Low key Here. I think or. Eastwood would become the Only politician on the whole Monterey Peninsula with an unlisted  Townsend also castigated Eastwood As a political  he s never even come Down to City Hall other than to file his election papers. The business Community conned him into getting into this Townsend said. Eastwood conceded he has not taken an Active role in Carmel government. But it s a very glum very depressing atmosphere Down there at City Hall Eastwood said. He also bristled at the charge that he has been enlisted by business interests to do their bidding. The Eastwood Campaign is sensitive to the perception that he will try on Cash in on his movie Star Personna realizing that might backfire in publicity shy Carmel and has gone to great lengths to Down play Eastwood s Fame preferring instead the soft sell approach. There have been no big Campaign stunts no gala dinners no fanfare no Campaign banners draped across City streets. Rather Eastwood has invited Small groups to his Home for Tea and has declined most interviews with out of town reporters. Simply put Eastwood Hopes to Charm the voters with his rigorous door to door visits. There s no about it. Clint is the big name in the Campaign and he s a real charmer Laub said. That s going to help him but not enough to  the stars and stripes Page 13