" The Love Carmel program includes educating our visitors on the ways they can make a difference, highlighting “Know Before You Go” information and “Voluntourism” opportunities."

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"Entrants in the 2022 Carmel Beach Sandcastle Contest were working hard Saturday morning in the hopes of taking home the coveted Golden Shovel Award."

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"For the first time in his lengthy political career, Mayor Dave Potter is running unopposed for office, so he can take campaign season off this year."

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"In June, the managing director of Monterey’s Portola Hotel & Spa was honored as one of the 100 Women of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal."

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"USA Today is holding a readers' choice award where people can vote for the best small towns in multiple categories. Carmel-by-the-Sea has been nominated for three separate awards."

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"The election for mayor and two city councilmembers is nearly seven months away, but Mayor Dave Potter announced at a Rotary meeting this week that he's planning on running again..."

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"On Sunday, a small group of locals in Carmel held a fundraiser to help people in Ukraine, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to displace civilians...."

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"From handling COVID-19 and parklets to dealing with the new state mandate for housing in the city, Carmel-by-the-Sea Mayor Dave Potter has been kept busy throughout the pandemic, but his priority remains handling disagreements in the community..."

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"Just one square mile in size, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a coastal charmer overflowing with shops, restaurants, wine tasting rooms and a striking white sand beach. A short, stunning drive inland are the rolling (and often grapevine-covered) hills of..."

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"If you are thinking it might be time for a quick getaway, one of California’s favorite beach cities is only a short drive away.Take advantage of what’s in our backyard, which is easier said than done, but Carmel-by-the-Sea offers a relaxing escape that’s hard to replicate so close to home..."

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"A drive along scenic Highway 1 is a must-do when visiting the area, as is putting your feet in the soft white sand of Carmel Beach. The area’s vibrant wine scene means there’s no shortage of tasting rooms in town, along with top-notch cuisine."

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"Is there a more quintessential pet-friendly experience in Monterey County than the sight of the joy on your dog's face as they run free along the powdery sands of Carmel Beach? For the days you just want to lay out on the sand in the sun with your best friend, enjoy a beach picnic or a leisurely sunset stroll."

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"This week really lets everybody know what a special place this is," said Carmel Mayor Dave Potter. "The excitement, the buzz is back in town. It's great to have the Carmel spirit invigorated."

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"When a Confederate flag popped up in the tiny town of Carmel-by-the-Sea in late May, residents could have grumbled and griped about the symbol of hate among themselves. One resident spoke up, and on Tuesday, July 5, the Carmel City Council affirmed her voice with an official proclamation."

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"It doesn't get more charming than Carmel-by-the-Sea, a seaside town with a rich history and bustling arts scene. Spend the morning walking the Scenic Bluff Path along the coast, before surfing and lounging on the pristine Carmel Beach."

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"First a bit of historical review for our readers: the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea has remained steady at 4,000.  Carmel was first incorporated as a city in 1916."

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“State of the City & County” hosted by the Carmel Chamber of Commerce was an impactful event that tended to the heightened worries of the community of Monterey Bay as the local businesses begin to bounce back from the economic and social impact of the ongoing pandemic.

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Celebrating the improvements of the $11.2 million Intermodal Transportation Center at the Salinas train station, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County will host a virtual ribbon-cutting on Friday, part of Phase I of the Monterey County Rail Extension project.

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Outgoing councilwoman Jan Reimers attended her final meeting Thursday as the reelected Mayor Dave Potter and councilman Bobby Richards and newly elected councilwoman Karen Ferlito took their oaths of office, agreeing to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic," to "bear true faith and allegiance" to them, and to "well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter."

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With Coronavirus spreading rapidly in Monterey County, city administrator Chip Rerig announced Friday that a planned swearing-in of incumbents Mayor Dave Potter and councilman Bobby Richards and new city councilwoman Karen Ferlito set to take place in Forest Theater will now be done virtually, instead.

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Incumbent Mayor Dave Potter won in a decisive victory over challenger Judy Refuerzo in the Nov. 3 election, while incumbent councilman Bobby Richards and newcomer Karen Ferlito beat challengers Graeme Robertson and Mo Massoudi.

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Central Coast 2020 general elections results

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CARMEL — Carmel Mayor Dave Potter breezed to reelection by a huge margin while an incumbent and long-time volunteer won election to the town’s city council.

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Carmel Mayor Dave Potter got his wish on his birthday, Nov. 3. He came in first place over challenger Judy Refuerzo, with an enormous lead of 1,236 votes, or 74 percent, to Refuerzo's 433 votes at just under 26 percent.

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Carmel Mayor Dave Potter has a challenger this election in former tech worker turned yoga teacher Judy Refuerzo.

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All but one candidate for city office gave Cal Am's proposed desal plant a thumbs down at a voter forum held by the Carmel Residents Association Oct. 1, and only the incumbents believe the issue of short-term rentals in the business district has been resolved.

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In a city dependent on tourism, a pandemic could easily be the deadly fever that wipes out any reserves.  Carmel's 2020-21 adopted budget looked grim: transient occupancy tax revenue was expected to be down 34 percent from what was originally budgeted (a loss of over $2 million) and sales and use tax revenue were projected to decline by 18 percent, or nearly $1 million, for this fiscal year.

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Voted Number 3: Carmel-by-the-Sea - Imagine the craggy northern California coastline, and the first image that comes to mind may be the arched Bixby Creek Bridge, which connects Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur to the south. A drive along scenic Highway 1 is a must-do when visiting the area, as is putting your feet in the soft white sand of Carmel Beach.

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In addition to his current role as Carmel mayor, Potter is on the board of the League of California Cities, and the boards of the Transportation Agency of Monterey County, the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District and the Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority, among others.

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With so many people running for city council and the school board, campaign signs are popping up all over town.

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Fielding questions primarily focused on business, candidates for mayor and the city council tried to convince voters during a Carmel Chamber of Commerce forum Thursday night they deserve to be elected Nov. 3.

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With the worst wildfires in state history causing hundreds of millions of dollars in losses and widespread destruction of natural resources, and displacing thousands of people - including hundreds of victims of recent fires in Upper Carmel Valley, the Salinas Valley and the South Coast - candidates for Carmel mayor and city council acknowledged this week that fire prevention and planning are vitally important.

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Like many other traditions, the decades-old practice of gathering in a large room to question candidates for elected office has been forced into a virtual realm, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

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"Amid wildfires and a pandemic, the top priorities of those running for mayor and two city council seats are pretty clear, focusing on public safety and economic recovery, and while the incumbents argue their experience makes them better choices, candidates seeking their first terms point to their public participation in town and their fresh perspectives."

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Potter says he’s worked collaboratively with businesses and residents for the last two years and wants to continue in that vein for another two years.

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People in Carmel-by-the-Sea are responding to the U.S. Census at a much lower rate than all other cities and most unincorporated areas in the county, an official said.

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A HALF-DOZEN candidates will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot for mayor and two city council members. When the filing period closed Wednesday afternoon, incumbent Mayor Dave Potter and community activities commission- er Judy Refuerzo had qualified for the mayoral race.

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With the coronavirus still impacting much of the world, there’s no doubt that this summer will be a very different one for most of us—especially Americans, who are largely banned from traveling to Europe right now. ​

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Over 100 years ago, artists and other creatives were drawn to the tiny town of Carmel-by-the-Sea as a place of rest and inspiration. Back then it was word-of-mouth that spread the village's reputation far and wide.  

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Less than an hour before President Donald Trump declared a national emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic, the Carmel City Council voted 4-0 on March 13, to approve an emergency proclamation signed the day before by City Administrator Chip Rerig. 

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Voters in both Monterey and Carmel on election night delivered a resounding victory for those cities’ bottom lines by passing half-cent sales tax increases. Measure C in Carmel and Measure G in Monterey both passed by overwhelming margins. With all precincts reporting, Carmel’s Measure C passed 61% to 39% and Monterey’s Measure G passed 63% to 37%.

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Joining Monterey in asking voters to help close budget gaps by increasing sales tax, Carmel is putting its own measure on the March ballot. Measure C proposes to increase sales tax by 0.5 cents, bringing the total to 9.25%. Of that Carmel gets just 2%, or 2.5% if the measure passes. The state receives 6% of the total and Monterey County collects 0.75%.

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Every Christmas, throughout his life, Mayor Dave Potter received an illustrated book by his mother, Ruth, an artist, depicting some part of her life as she remembered it. The books recorded when she met Potter’s father during the World War II, when the newlyweds first took a trip to Europe after the war, the house she had later designed and built, and a lifetime of excursions. 

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Carmel is one square mile, and once you’ve arrived you can park your car and forget it. The easy-to-navigate town has long attracted artists and authors, and contrary to the ominous vibe infused in “Big Little Lies,” the village has a long history as a religious site and artists’ refuge. 

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Located on California's Central Coast, Carmel Beach is one of the most picturesque locales in the United States. Walk along the Scenic Bluff Path for views of the rugged coastline and soft white sands of Carmel Beach below. 

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It’s Valentine’s Day, lovers. And whether you enjoy a big to-do or a low-key celebration, it always helps to know which cities offer the best in romantic fare.

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A nature abhors a vacuum, politics doesn’t tolerate scandal for long. After some contentious times, the voters of the City of Carmel spoke loud and clear last November 6, electing former 5th District Monterey County Supervisor Dave Potter to the position of mayor. He garnered 60percent of the 2,008 ballots cast.

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With the New Year comes new leadership for Carmel. Recently elected mayor Dave Potter and his wife, Janine, found time to chat with 65 Degrees about what they see for the village’s future.

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Dave Potter says he has enjoyed a remarkable life, much of which he owes to accident and advantage. The new Mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, who was sworn into service soon after he won the election last November, takes a moment to reflect on his life in the public sector.​

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With the recent passage of Measure J, the November ballot initiative that compels the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District to conduct a study as to whether buying out California American Water's local system is feasible, there has perhaps never been so much interest in who sits in the district's board

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In a city hall packed to overflowing, Dave Potter took the oath of office as the city’s new mayor Tuesday afternoon, promising to “fulfill the public’s expectations” and make sure

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Everyone inside the Carmel Council Chambers on Tuesday, Nov. 27, played their proper roles as the city said goodbye to former mayor Steve Dallas and Councilmember Carolyn Hardy.

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Despite aggressive campaigning by Mayor Steve Dallas and his fellow incumbents, Carmel voters resoundingly chose Dave Potter as their new mayor and Jeff Baron as their new councilman Tuesday. Potter received almost 60 percent of the vote, and Dallas just 30 percent — practically shouted the electorate’s desire for change in city hall.

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About 30 people gathered just after 8pm inside Carmel City Hall to watch election results, where the mood was jovial as the group chatted. When the first returns appeared on the overhead screen above the City Council dais, jaws dropped and the room fell practically silent....

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There are three distinct choices in Carmel this November - An embattled, but experienced incumbent (Mayor Steve Dallas), a political mainstay unseated in 2016 now looking to hop back in (Dave Potter), and an election and city newcomer (Gene Hughes)...

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While “tribalism” is the word of the day in hyper-partisan Washington, D.C., dozens of local candidates and ballot measures transcend party. These candidates, and authors of measures, are your neighbors. The votes you cast in local (nonpartisan) races stand to make a profound and immediate effect on your neighborhood...

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As the trade association for the hospitality industry in Monterey County, MCHA believes it is important that we are actively involved in elections and support those candidates, propositions and measures that will have a significant effect on our industry and community. Elected officials shape local policy and adopt regulations which in turn impact, positively or negatively, our businesses, the community and residents. Tax measures impact the cost of doing business.

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Dave Potter, a former Monterey County Supervisor, will be an asset to the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea with his significant public policy experience at the county and city levels of government, bi-partisan endorsement and a consistent record of support for small businesses.

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The City of Carmel’s budget this year is $25.5 million — much of which goes to salaries, pensions and other benefits for employees, but which also includes sizable amounts for capital projects, legal spending and payments toward debt. Every year, when the budget is adopted, the city council has to decide what items should be increased, and which ones can be cut.

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Is the single greatest challenge facing the city ensuring solid revenues? A lack of transparency and public trust? Retirement debt? Lack of long-term planning? Or is it development? Three candidates for mayor and three vying for two city council seats in November...

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The half-dozen residents vying for mayor and city council in November all have some potential conflicts of interest, according to forms they had to file to run for office

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Carmel's cottages recently caught the eye of international design magazine Architectural Digest, who dubbed the city California's "prettiest town." The cottages are cute, sure, but they're also rich in history

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Simultaneously, in nearby Pacific Grove – which also elects its mayor like every other Monterey County city except for King City, which uses a rotation system...

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Well-known former Monterey County Supervisor Dave Potter is giving elected office another go, this time in the considerably cozier confines of Carmel.

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The former Monterey County supervisor will run against current mayor Steve Dallas.

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Dave Potter, a former Monterey County supervisor who lost in his bid for re-election in 2016, is getting back into politics. 

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