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Huntington Beach Mayor Lyn Semeta and Councilman Patrick Brenden both announced Thursday, Aug. 6, that their names will not appear on the November ballot – leaving the election wide open.

“It was never my goal to be in politics the rest of my life,” Semeta said in an interview. “I committed to doing all I can do for four years.”

In an unusual twist, not a single incumbent will run for city council this year.

“It’s going to be a real circus, and Huntington Beach is already a circus as it is,” Councilman Erik Peterson said with a laugh.

As of Thursday, a dozen residents had filed to run for three open seats. Councilwoman Jill Hardy terms out of office this year.

Interested candidates now can file through Wednesday, Aug. 12, rather than meet what would have been an Aug. 7 cutoff.

“When an incumbent doesn’t file for reelection, the deadline is extended to allow for people who might think, ‘Hey, the odds are better now,’” said City Clerk Robin Estanislau.

Brenden said he wants to devote more time to his year-old role as CEO of Bolsa Chica Conservancy, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the wetlands.

“I had to make a choice,” he said.

In Huntington Beach, the mayoral position generally rotates every year among council members. When her turn came around, Semeta drew the short straw – a stint overshadowed by coroanavirus shutdowns.

“She missed out on the Fourth of July parade, the airshow, the U.S. Open (of Surfing),” noted Councilman Mike Posey. “This is the worst year ever to be mayor. But she has always shown grace under pressure.”

Huntington Beach also has been the magnet for raucous rallies – starting with the “Open California” demonstrations in May and moving into clashes between Black Lives Matter protesters and counterprotesters.

Even before coronavirus reared its head, council meetings could become a theater of discord, with opposing speakers harshly lambasting city officials and each other.

Her colleagues praised Semeta for directing the show with civility and calmness.

“Lyn does the balancing act with amazing poise and professionalism,” said Councilwoman Kim Carr.

Semeta traced her mediation skills back to the days of advocating for her now-adult daughter with autism.

“I acted as moderator between parents and school officials at town hall meetings so that both sides could be heard,” said Semeta, an attorney. “I have a lot of experience in weaving through difficult circumstances.”

Brenden, if reelected, was in line to be the next mayor – but even that carrot was not enough to keep him there, he said.

“My work with the Bolsa Chica Conservancy is endlessly satisfying,” he said. “Divided between two demanding pursuits, I can’t live up to my own standards.”

Despite the tug of his full-time job, Brenden admitted, constant and sometimes organized criticism from various groups of residents took a toll on him. He came under fire for his votes supporting homeless shelters, city employee raises and other issues.

“It has been my privilege to serve the city and influence public policy,” Brenden said. “But it would be false to say that the divisiveness of politics these days hasn’t been a factor. It’s difficult to maintain a positive attitude when you have people trying to tear you down.”

Carr lauded Brenden as “a great asset to the city.”

“I am truly going to miss him,” she said. “I had looked forward to seeing him as mayor.”

Peterson said he wondered if Semeta and Brenden “saw the writing on the wall” regarding the city’s financial woes due to coronavirus and loss of tax revenue.

“The next few years – not just next year – are going to be rough,” he said.

However, Semeta said current and future challenges only played a small part in her decision to sit out the race.

“Would I have chosen this year to be mayor? Absolutely not,” Semeta said. “Still, I feel I’ve done important work in leading the community through this crisis – advocating for businesses, informing the community and doing all we can do to keep people safe.”