Last night, Berkeley residents chose five candidates to run in the November Rent Stabilization Board elections under the city's progressive pro-tenant slate.

The five residents­­-Nicole Drake, Judy Shelton, Jesse Townley, UC Berkeley alumnus Igor Tregub, and incumbent Jack Harrison-will run on the Committee to Defend Affordable Housing slate, which represents pro-tenant rights on the board.

There were ten candidates vying for the slate's five open positions, which correspond to the five available rent board positions.

The Rent Stabilization Board regulates rent increases and evictions, according to its official mission statement.

The committee chose its slate through elections that were open to all Berkeley residents at a conference held in North Berkeley last night. More than 170 ballots were cast.

"It's very open. Anyone is allowed to come in and participate," said City Councilmember Kriss Worthington, who volunteered in the slate elections.

Many voters said they voted for personal friends and based their votes on the recommendations of local activists and politicians.

According to Harrison and Worthington, the absence of an opposing pro-landlord slate and the lack of independent candidates means the pro-tenant slate is virtually guaranteed to win the rent board positions in the November elections.

Should the slate secure all five board positions after the state elections, Harrison said he hopes to work with the new board members on issues like seismic retrofitting, landlord harassment abuses and housing foreclosures.

Townley said seismic improvements are among his highest priorities.

"I'm for pushing the city to require effective seismic retrofits in all rental housing, without allowing landlords to pass the costs to tenants," he said.

Tregub, a recent alumnus who secured a position on the slate, said he would promote student awareness of their rights as tenants under rent stabilization programs, should he become a board member.

After the results were released, Tregub said he was elated to secure a position on the slate with the support of his college-age friends.

"I'm still really speechless. I'm touched by all the support," he said. "We brought a lot of first-timers to the process."

Tags: RENT STABILIZATION BOARD, ELECTIONS