Forrest Lanning, the 10th potential candidate for El Cerrito City Council, is a structural engineer who worked in disaster recovery
The newest potential candidate for El Cerrito City Council, Forrest Lanning, is a structural engineer who earned a degree in Architectural Engineering from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) and conducted earthquake engineering research at Stanford University.
For more than 15 years, Lanning helped communities recover from major earthquakes and tsunamis in countries including New Zealand, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Costa Rica, and Colombia, he wrote to the Wire. Working with organizations including USAID, the United Nations, and the World Bank, he led disaster recovery programs that rebuilt and retrofitted schools, strengthened critical infrastructure, and improved earthquake preparedness.
Lanning brings to 10 the number of people who have taken out papers to run for two, four-year seats on the council.
The following are officially candidates as of Aug. 5, having completed their nomination papers and had them marked qualified by the city clerk: Mary Ann Jawili, Michael McDougall, Wally Nowinski, incumbent Gabe Quinto, and Kimberly White.
Papers have also been taken out by Rahul Iyer, Gaia Sonatina, Megan Steffen, and the second incumbent, Carolyn Wysinger.
The candidates have until Friday, Aug. 7, to return their completed papers to the city clerk. If Wysinger, as an incumbent, does not return hers by that date, the nomination period will be extended until Aug. 12.