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Andy Katz, city affairs director for the Associated Students of the University of California, said he is considering a November run for City Council in the wake of Councilmember Polly Armstrong’s retirement announcement this week. 

“I’m considering it,” said the UC Berkeley senior, who also serves on the Zoning Adjustments Board, noting that he has formed an exploratory committee to look into the possibility. 

Katz said he could develop a base of support beyond the students living in District 8 because of his experience on ZAB and work with neighborhood groups. 

“I’ve certainly been able to work with people from all walks of life,” he said.  

City Councilmember Kriss Worthington, District 7, said Katz has a shot. 

“He is a student, but he’s much, much more,” said Worthington, noting that Katz has logged long hours in General Plan and Southside Plan meetings. 

Becky O’Malley, a retired businesswoman who has suggested she might run, said Katz “has a lot of potential,” but questioned whether he could win widespread support. 

“I don’t think he would be able to appeal to the majority of District 8 voters because he is relatively new to the scene,” O’Malley said. 

But, O’Malley said it would be worthwhile to have student on the council, and suggested she might not run if redistricting provided Katz, or another student, with a legitimate chance to win.  

A redistricting plan approved by a City Council subcommittee yesterday will likely provide District 8 with a slight increase in its student population.  

O’Malley said it is too early to determine whether the plan, which has not yet been approved by the full council, would provide any significant bump to a student candidate. 

“It is my understanding that it is not a drastic change,” added Katz, who maintained that he could appeal to a broad cross-section of voters, no matter what the composition of the district. 

Katz said if he runs and is elected, he will make housing, safety and transportation top priorities. As a Councilmember, he said, he would urge UC Berkeley to provide transit passes for its employees. 

“The university needs to be accountable for the impacts it has on the community,” Katz said, arguing that the passes would reduce congestion. 

O’Malley said she would push for passes as well, as part of a larger effort to make the university more responsive to city needs. 

“I think the thing that everyone in Berkeley has to face is the relationship between the city and the university,” she said, arguing that UC Berkeley has not done enough to mitigate the impact of its construction projects. 

O’Malley added that, as a City Councilmember, she would work to make sure that affordable housing is a top priority for the few remaining sites for development in Berkeley. 

Gordon Wozniak, a Planning Commission member who has expressed interest in running for the seat, could not be reached by the Planet’s deadline. 

Contact reporter David Scharfenberg at scharfenberg@ berkeleydailyplanet.net