Sign-ups begin for city, water, school elections

As political attention focuses on two upcoming elections impacting the make-up of Yorba Linda's battle-weary City Council, sign-ups also begin later this month for four-year positions on the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District and Yorba Linda Water District boards.

And, while affordable housing, residential density and special-interest campaign financing issues will dominate the council contests, such topics as Common Core and the drought's effect on local water availability could be raised in the school and water district elections.

Two trustee positions – now held by 25-year board veteran Karin Freeman and current board president Carrie Buck – are slated for the ballot in the school district, while three director jobs – now held by Phil Hawkins, Bob Kiley and Gary Melton – are available in the water district.

Two years ago, elections in both districts were canceled because nobody filed to run against the incumbents, so school trustees Judi Carmona, Carol Downey and Eric Padget and water directors Mike Beverage and Ric Collett were appointed to new terms.

Filing for the school and water board slots, as well as council seats now held by John Anderson and Tom Lindsey, on the Nov. 4 ballot begins July 14 and ends Aug. 8, unless extended to Aug. 13 if an incumbent fails to file. Filing for the Oct. 7 council recall ballot ends July 24.

School and water district candidates file at the county Registrar of Voters' Santa Ana office, while council candidates file at City Hall. Contenders should pick up papers early in the process, since requirements are detailed and often complex.

One of the first decisions candidates must make is whether to pay for a statement of qualifications to be mailed to registered voters with sample ballots and other voting information.

The cost – which can run in the $900 to $1,300 range – pays for printing and translating into four other languages and is related to the number of registered voters in each district, which now stands at 40,814 in the city, 47,521 in the water district and 83,907 in the school district.

Unless a challenger has widespread name identification, raising campaign funds will be a daunting task, since first-timers in all races need some $30,000 or more to be competitive.

Although the Oct. 7 recall is – surprisingly – the city's first, two special elections have been held to replace council members: Ken Ryan won in 2000 after Gene Wisner resigned in 1999, and Hank Wedaa won in 2007 after Mike Duvall was elected to the state Assembly in 2006.

Just once was council able to agree on a fill-in without having to call an election: Wisner, runner-up in the 1982 election, was named to replace Ron McRoberts, who quit in 1983.

Interestingly, if Lindsey is recalled Oct. 7, his replacement would serve until Dec. 2, unless he or she also runs for and wins a seat in the separate Nov. 4 contest.