Actor Anson Williams officially lost his mayoral bid in Ojai, California, on Wednesday after a month of counting votes, according to the Ventura County Clerk-Recorder’s office.
official final result, Released on December 7, showed Williams 1,781 votes to incumbent Ojai Mayor Betsy Stix’s 1,823 votes.
The actor, who starred as Potsie on the 1970s and ’80s sitcom “Happy Days,” previously said he would request a reprieve in the tightrope running.
Williams, 72, ran on a platform heavily involved in sustainable environmental policies as well as basic quality of life issues for the city.
1 priority listed on his campaign website was a pledge to “encourage climate-change resilience and mitigation” in Ojai, “along with the creation of a commission to find best practices and policies to reduce Ojai’s carbon footprint.” and “promoting” incentives to encourage the conservation and use of renewable energy.
Williams told reporters that even though he lost the race, his campaign has raised public awareness in the mayor’s office and city council on important local issues that are needed.
After announcing his candidacy at an Ojai City Council meeting in July, Williams received an immediate endorsement from his acting friend Henry “The Fonz” Winkler, who posted “You have my vote” on Twitter.
On his website, Williams stated that he was running because of his love for the city.
“When I was recovering from cancer, the heart of this healing community saved my life and blessed me with the love of my husband. But over the years I have felt a troubling change. are pulling apart in a time when we need to pull together. It’s time for new leadership,” he said. “Let’s bring back the spirit of Ojai and protect the community we love.”
Changing the world is in Williams’ DNA. His uncle, Dr. Henry Judah Heimlich, invented the “Heimlich maneuver” to save suffocating victims.
Williams was also able to claim enough experience from his directing/producing career to influence the world.
“My life skills as a director and producer have prepared me to be a highly effective mayor. Called upon to lead large groups of people with conflicting ideas and different perspectives, I have learned the power of collaboration, Working together for the greater good,” he said.
She continued: “Combining this skill with my interest in public service, I convinced Merv Griffin to introduce my uncle’s life-saving Heimlich maneuver to the world. Ron Howard and I cast the first disabled actress in such a film.” Cast, which was instrumental in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ABC special I directed, ‘No Greater Gift,’ helped double organ donors in the United States. And I got to be the entertainment director for our troops overseas Was proud to serve three years on the board of the USO.
