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With two political veterans vying for mayor this November, it will take something special to compete with front-runners Mayor Shirley Dean and Tom Bates. 

Little-known, third candidate John Boushell, 47, who goes by his middle name of Pat, says he’s got that special something. He calls it appeal to the post-Sept. 11 voter.  

“Circumstances have changed over the past year, both politically and economically. I think people now are looking for outside people to enter the political arena, not just professional politicians,” Boushell said. 

Boushell has admittedly never held political office before. He makes his living as a “freelance educator” who uses his English degree from Princeton University to drum up work as a tutor. He lives in subsidized housing in west Berkeley. 

Well-spoken and jovial, though unadorned in appearance and manner, Boushell describes himself as a life-long democrat who is tired of politics as usual. He is registered with the Green Party and is running for mayor on a platform of what he calls a “moderate American green.” 

Like the other two mayoral candidates, education and environmental protection play big on his agenda.  

What differentiates him from his rivals, Boushell says, is the fact that he’s not aligned with either of City Council’s political factions and is therefore accountable only to the needs of individuals, particularly the poor and underrepresented. 

“It’s good for political leadership to come from lower socio-economic rungs,” Boushell said. He said his experience living from “paycheck to paycheck” and enduring the fierce housing market of Oakland and Berkeley for the last 22 years has taught him fiscal responsibility, another tenet of his mayoral campaign. 

He said he would be more frugal about spending than past Berkeley politicians, but stopped short of criticizing City Council or his mayoral competition. 

“I’m tired of negative campaigning,” Boushell said. “I’m not running against any candidate. I’m running for me and I intend to win.” 

City Councilmember Dona Spring, a leader in Berkeley’s Green Party chapter and supporter of mayoral candidate Bates, doesn’t know of Boushell. But said she doesn’t think he should be running on a green platform. 

“Greens don’t just run on ideology, they run on action... and Boushell has not been involved in community politics at all,” Spring said. “We want to urge him not to run.” 

With Bate’s high-profile campaign, Spring doubted that Boushell would have much effect on the race even if she is unable to convince him to withdraw his bid. 

Boushell acknowledged that Spring had been trying to contact him, but said he would not return her mail because she is affiliated with Bates’ camp. 

Financial obstacles will also be weighing on Boushell. While Bates has already reported contributions of $35,000, as of July, and Dean with contributions of $8,000, as of July, Boushell had not reported any. 

Boushell downplayed the need for money. 

“My worth doesn’t come in the form of cash,” he said. “I’m working really hard to develop a network of individuals that will drive my campaign.” 

The filing deadline for the mayoral seat was Aug. 9. The race between the three candidates will play out Nov. 5. 

Contact reporter at  

kurtis@berkeleydailyplanet.net.