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Prince, Uecker seeking seats on Ripon council
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RIPON – A two-term Ripon City Councilman that opted not to run four years ago is planning on throwing his hat back into the ring for the November election.

Dan Prince – who during his eight-year stint on the council served a term as mayor – confirmed Thursday that he planned on making a run for one of the two seats up for contention this year after hearing from Mayor Chuck Winn that he didn’t plan on seeking another term.

Prince would have sought another four-year term in 2006, but became embroiled in the bizarre case of former First Congregation Church Pastor Randy Radic, who literally stole the church and its assets right out from underneath the parishioners he served every Sunday.
With its close proximity to Re/Max Executive Real Estate – where Prince had an office as a Realtor – the two became close, and the con-man used his relationship with the then-sitting councilman and Notary Public to sign some of the fraudulent documents that Prince just assumed were on the up-and-up.

Radic was spared a jail sentence for testifying against former cellmate Roy Smith, who allegedly admitted to Radic that he murdered Ripon woman Mary Moreno-Starkey – whose body had not yet at that time been found my authorities. Smith eventually led them to an isolated mountainside where her remains were found, and pled guilty to murder.

Now that four years have passed, and the days of budget surpluses and figuring out what else to add to the community are long gone, Prince says he wants a chance to help guide Ripon into a positive direction and through the tough and tumultuous times that he has felt quite regularly as a real estate agent.

“I’ve always had a love for this city, and I thought that it would be a good time to jump back into the mix,” Prince said – noting that it was spurred by Winn telling him he wouldn’t be seeking another four years. “I’ve got eight years of experience on that council, and I want to lend some of that experience to the city that I care so much about.”

Current Councilman Dean Uecker – who took the seat that Prince vacated when he decided not to run – has indicated that he too will take another shot at the council.

According to City Clerk Lynette Van Laar, the candidate filing period won’t begin until early July.