File period for races open--who will challenge?
Many elected officials have a dream scenario: residents so happy with their service that nobody runs against them, eliminating the possibility of losing and saving thousands of dollars in campaign costs.
Whether or not the dream comes true for incumbents representing Yorba Linda on five governing bodies will be known Aug. 8, when filing ends for 13 positions slated for the Nov. 4 ballot.
All of the past 22 City Council races have been hotly contested, but school trustee and water board elections have been cancelled due to a lack of candidates and the high cost of campaigning in large voting districts.
For example, the 2000 and 2004 elections for Placentia-Yorba Linda school trustees were dropped, since just three candidates filed for three seats: Carol Downey, first appointed in 2000; Judy Miller, first elected in 1988; and Craig Olson, first elected in 1992.
This year, seats held by Downey, Miller and Olson’s appointed replacement, Eric Padget, are again scheduled for the ballot, if more than three candidates file to run. Padget lost to Karin Freeman and Jan Wagner in a three-way race for two seats in 2006.
The last incumbent to lose in the district with 90,225 voters in five cities was Cathy Brooks in 1998, but she had announced her withdrawal before voting.
Toughest races for challengers will be the four trustee slots open in the North Orange County Community College District. Although trustees represent specific areas in the district, they’re elected district-wide, from all or parts of 18 cities with 422,072 voters.
In fact, five of the current seven trustees were first appointed to office, including two Yorba Lindans, Jeff Brown and Mike Matsuda. Brown, named in 2002, gained a new term in 2006, and Matsuda, appointed in 2005, is slated for this year’s ballot.
Others with expiring terms are Leonard Lahtinen of Anaheim, who beat an appointed incumbent in 1990; Molly McClanahan of Fullerton, appointed in 1995; and Manuel Ontiveros of Anaheim, appointed in 1999.
Already assured competition if they seek re-election are Councilmen Allen Castellano, Hank Wedaa and Jim Winder, who’d face 42,056 voters, and Yorba Linda Water District directors Mike Beverage and Ric Collette, who’d face 46,576.
Announced challengers are 32-year resident Nancy Rikel and past three-term Councilman Mark Schwing for council and Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta and Dave Rosenberger for water board, all endorsed by the Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation group.
Roger Yoh’s Orange County Water District term also is up. The Buena Park resident’s Division 3 has 113,925 voters in Yorba Linda and four other cities.
Filing is extended through Aug. 13 for non-incumbents if an incumbent doesn’t run. Council contenders sign up at City Hall and others with the county Registrar of Voters.
A FINAL NOTE
Total attendance at four Town Hall meetings has been 221, including council members, city staff and media types, out of an estimated 65,621 population. Next gathering is July 29 at East Lake Village Clubhouse, site of last year’s largest crowd, 82.
Whether or not the dream comes true for incumbents representing Yorba Linda on five governing bodies will be known Aug. 8, when filing ends for 13 positions slated for the Nov. 4 ballot.
All of the past 22 City Council races have been hotly contested, but school trustee and water board elections have been cancelled due to a lack of candidates and the high cost of campaigning in large voting districts.
For example, the 2000 and 2004 elections for Placentia-Yorba Linda school trustees were dropped, since just three candidates filed for three seats: Carol Downey, first appointed in 2000; Judy Miller, first elected in 1988; and Craig Olson, first elected in 1992.
This year, seats held by Downey, Miller and Olson’s appointed replacement, Eric Padget, are again scheduled for the ballot, if more than three candidates file to run. Padget lost to Karin Freeman and Jan Wagner in a three-way race for two seats in 2006.
The last incumbent to lose in the district with 90,225 voters in five cities was Cathy Brooks in 1998, but she had announced her withdrawal before voting.
Toughest races for challengers will be the four trustee slots open in the North Orange County Community College District. Although trustees represent specific areas in the district, they’re elected district-wide, from all or parts of 18 cities with 422,072 voters.
In fact, five of the current seven trustees were first appointed to office, including two Yorba Lindans, Jeff Brown and Mike Matsuda. Brown, named in 2002, gained a new term in 2006, and Matsuda, appointed in 2005, is slated for this year’s ballot.
Others with expiring terms are Leonard Lahtinen of Anaheim, who beat an appointed incumbent in 1990; Molly McClanahan of Fullerton, appointed in 1995; and Manuel Ontiveros of Anaheim, appointed in 1999.
Already assured competition if they seek re-election are Councilmen Allen Castellano, Hank Wedaa and Jim Winder, who’d face 42,056 voters, and Yorba Linda Water District directors Mike Beverage and Ric Collette, who’d face 46,576.
Announced challengers are 32-year resident Nancy Rikel and past three-term Councilman Mark Schwing for council and Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta and Dave Rosenberger for water board, all endorsed by the Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation group.
Roger Yoh’s Orange County Water District term also is up. The Buena Park resident’s Division 3 has 113,925 voters in Yorba Linda and four other cities.
Filing is extended through Aug. 13 for non-incumbents if an incumbent doesn’t run. Council contenders sign up at City Hall and others with the county Registrar of Voters.
A FINAL NOTE
Total attendance at four Town Hall meetings has been 221, including council members, city staff and media types, out of an estimated 65,621 population. Next gathering is July 29 at East Lake Village Clubhouse, site of last year’s largest crowd, 82.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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