Is a Bankruptcy filing by a Eureka City Council candidate relevant information?

Is a Bankruptcy filing by a City Council candidate relevant information?

One would think so.

It would seem that if you were running for City Council you might want to divulge that you filed a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy petition, just a little over 2 years ago. After all, it is the Eureka City Council that has final authority over the city of Eureka’s 80 million dollar plus budget. Kim Bergel and her husband filed bankruptcy in July of 2012 and listed $222,514 in unsecured creditors along with $233,794 in secured and priority creditors for a total of $524,248.

In addition to substantial credit card debt, there were dozens of local businesses who were not paid. There was even a small debt to the City of Eureka, the very city Kim Bergel now wants to exercise financial authority over. In addition to the numerous small businesses who were harmed, over $5300 was not paid for workers compensation on their employees. This is a fact that would seem to question one's judgment and just how much they even care about the people who work for them.

One would think that maybe, just maybe, someone who left so many unpaid bills might want to consider getting their own financial house in order before deciding to run for city council and  taking on the responsibility of the cities $80 million dollar yearly budget. Even if one were to overlook the fact that a lot of folks were harmed by their gross financial mismanagement, you can't overlook the fact that Kim Bergel should have come clean with the voters. Voters are now left with the pressing question of whether this is the kind of person they want to represent them?

Creditors--unsecured claims:

Alnquist Lumber $965                                      American Express Correspondence $$9.724
Arcata                                                                El Paso, Texas

American Express Correspondence $8,442      AT & T Universal Card $16,413
El Paso, Texas                                                   The Lakes, Nevada

Bank of America $25, 592                                 Bank of America $25, 139
El Paso, Texas                                                    El Paso, Texas

Bank of America $9,446                                    Bank of America $112
El Paso, Texas                                                    El Paso, Texas

Barbara Gallian $5,557                                      Bracut International Corp.
El Segundo, CA                                                 Arcata, CA 95518

Caroll Johnson $46,600                                      Chevron $405
Eureka, CA                                                         Concord, CA

Citi $8,188                                                           Citicorp Bank $1,794
Sioux Falls, South Dakota                                   Des Moines, Iowa

City of Eureka $72.42                                         Corsetti and Noyes LLP $824
Eureka, CA                                                          Eureka, CA

Cruz Plumbing $4,548                                        Cunningham, Malone and Morton $5,549
Eureka, CA                                                          Eureka, CA

Eureka Internal Medicine $48.13                         Eureka Ready Mix $2,427
Eureka, CA                                                           Eureka, CA  

Expert Tire $452                                                   GE Money Bank $1,506
Eureka, CA                                                            El Paso, Texas

HCC Surety Group $4,000                                    Hensel Hardware and Gifts $1,485
Los Angeles, CA                                                   Arcata, CA

IRS Special Procedures $7,731                             Les Schwab $576
Philadelphia, PA                                                    Bend, OR

Mad River Hospital $185                                      Marcus & Partners $660
Arcata, CA                                                             Berkley, CA

Miller Farms Nursery, Inc. $272                           Northwood Auto $2,304
McKinleyville, CA                                                Eureka, CA

PG & E  $ 749                                                       Pierson Building Center $1,710
Stockton, CA                                                         Eureka, CA

Platt $465                                                               Sherwin Williams $2,847
Portland, Oregon                                                    Eureka, CA

St. Joseph Hospital  $15                                         St. Joseph Hospital $15
Eureka, CA                                                             Eureka, CA

State Compensation Insurance $5,383                   Suddenlink $148
Pleasanton, CA                                                       Eureka, CA

Trinidad Electric Inc. $3, 616                                 United Rentals Northwest $1,439                        
Trinidad, CA                                                          Eureka, CA