Local News in Brief : Santa Ana : Bricken, Evans Decide to Run for Mayor

Gordon Bricken and Vernon S. Evans, both former mayors who have been off the City Council for several years, have taken out nomination papers to run in the city’s first popular election for mayor.

Bricken, who served on council from late 1974 until 1985, took out papers Tuesday for both the mayoral and Council Ward 3 races on the November ballot.

Bricken, a consulting engineer, was mayor from 1981 to 1983. He said he would probably run for mayor against the current mayor, Dan Young. But he might decide to run against Councilman Wilson B. Hart--to whom Bricken lost his old council seat in 1984--in the Ward 3 race, he said.

Evans, a title company executive, took out papers for the mayoral race Wednesday. He served on the council in 1969-79 and as mayor on two occasions for a total of about 28 months.

In addition to Bricken, Evans and Young, council member John Acosta has indicated that he might run for mayor. But in recent weeks Acosta has backed off from earlier statements that he would definitely run for mayor, saying now that he has not made up his mind but will announce his intention Aug. 11.

Candidates for the council races have until Aug. 12 to file nomination papers.