Voters have decisions ahead in November

Next up on the political scene is a four-week filing period for 10 positions representing Yorba Linda on five governing boards: two City Council seats, four school trustee jobs and four water board director slots.

And right away we’ll see who is serious about seeking the elected positions during signups, since credible candidates will write sizeable checks to pay for a 200-word “statement of qualifications” to be included with materials mailed to voters.

Candidates who can’t cough up the cash for a statement stand little chance of winning, since they probably also don’t have enough dough to pay for the newspaper ads, signs, mailers and annoying phone calls needed to reach voters.

Signups begin July 12 and end Aug. 6, unless an incumbent doesn’t file, which extends the time through Aug. 11 for challengers. Council signups are taken at City Hall, while all others file at the county Registrar of Voters office, 1300 S. Grand Ave., Santa Ana.

Here’re the local contests slated for the Nov. 2 ballot:

--Two City Council positions, held by John Anderson and Jan Horton, elected to first terms in 2006. Cost of a ballot statement is $946, sent to 43,082 voters. Horton is the only announced candidate to date.

--Three Placentia-Yorba Linda school district trustee slots, one two-year and two four-year terms. Incumbents are Kim Palmer, named in March to replace Judy Miller; Karin Freeman, first elected in 1989; and Jan Wagner, first elected in 1998.

Of course, Palmer’s in the race. She could sign-up for the short-term seat she now holds or seek a full term. Wagner told me she’s not running for a fourth-term, while Freeman e-mailed she’s “seriously considering” a re-election race but hasn’t made a final decision.

Cost of a ballot statement is $1,492, sent to 91,585 voters in Placentia and Yorba Linda and parts of Anaheim, Brea and Fullerton.

--A seat representing Yorba Linda and nearby areas on the North Orange County Community College District board, held by Jeff Brown, who’s up for a third term.

Yorba Lindans also will vote on two other college seats, held by Barbara Dunsheath of Cypress and Donna Miller of Buena Park, but candidates must reside in those areas. A ballot statement costs $5,428, sent to 431,985 voters.

--Three seats on the Yorba Linda Water District board, held by Phil Hawkins, appointed to replace Paul Armstrong, Bill Mills and John Summerfield. The ballot statement costs $1,000, sent to 47,570 voters. Mills has served 10 years and Summerfield nine.

--A seat serving Yorba Linda and other areas on the county Municipal Water District board held by Brett Barbre, who’s up for a fourth term. Ballot statement cost: $2,415 for 172,579 voters.

If the incumbents don’t draw challengers, they’ll be appointed to new terms, save the cost of campaigning and get a full refund on their ballot statement payments.