More than half of Yorba Lindans cast mail-in votes; they can start marking ballots next week

The growing number of Yorba Lindans who vote by mail will begin marking ballots for the Nov. 8 general election soon after Oct. 10, the date mail-in ballots are scheduled to be delivered to the post office for mailing by the county Registrar of Voters.

Mailed ballots can be received up to three days after the election if they are signed and dated by Nov. 8. The ballots also can be taken to the registrar's office in Santa Ana through Nov. 8 or left at any precinct on election day. Last day to apply for a regular vote-by-mail ballot is Nov. 1.

At last count, 23,750 of Yorba Linda's 40,643 registrants – nearly 58 percent – are permanent mail-in voters, a figure that's increased steadily since the state first allowed permanent vote-by-mail status in 2002. In the June primary, 60 percent of the votes cast in Yorba Linda were by mail.

Although registration continues until Oct. 24 (new citizens can register up until the polls close), this city's total voter registration lags far behind the 45,494 who populated the voter rolls in the 2012 presidential election.

The current standings: 22,276 Republicans (54.8 percent); 9,016 Democrats (22.2 percent); 7,864 no party preference (19.3 percent); and 1,487 for miscellaneous parties (3.7 percent).

Roadway campaign signs always draw attention with reports of sign-stealing and vandalism. Some residents see the signs as evidence of a vibrant democracy, while others decry clutter. And candidates often ignore specific zoning rules when posting them on public rights-of-way.

In a recent email, homeowners' association president and 2014 City Council candidate Judy Murray notes the Yorba Linda Boulevard and Yorba Ranch Road corner as “a very desirable location” for signs.

But, she says, the 218-home Rancho Dominguez Community Association “will be enforcing our CC&Rs and will not allow campaign signs on our perimeter landscape.”

I also received an email from former schools superintendent Doug Domene, now dean of the college of education at Hope International University. He's “disturbed by the misleading signs three of the school board candidates have placed around the city.”

He writes, “The signs have a tag line that says 'Save Prop. 13.' This is so misleading. Any changes to the current tax law do not fall under the purview of a school board.”

Voters can still enter the non-partisan council, water director and school trustee contests as write-in candidates by registering with the county elections office, 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building C, Santa Ana, through Oct. 25.

Write-in votes won't be counted or recorded unless candidates register. Write-ins aren't allowed in the partisan races, for which candidates were nominated in the June primary.

And in response to last week's column, Lysa Ray emailed: “Thanks for the mention. I just wanted to let you know I am neither a political consultant nor an adviser. . . I am just a political treasurer.”

Candidates for City Council, water director, school trustee contend for Yorba Linda votes on Nov. 8

Yorba Lindans can expect a heavier-than-usual onslaught of mailers, automated telephone calls and roadway signs for this election season, based on a field of 25 candidates seeking local City Council, school trustee and water director positions on the Nov. 8 ballot.

For the first time in two decades, all of the expiring positions scheduled for the election are contested, and many of the candidates and supportive political action committees are flush with campaign cash.

Add in a couple dozen of the phony “voter guides” that sell endorsements to the candidates so the office-seekers can associate their names with upbeat, positive-sounding committees and causes, and the city's green recyclable trash containers soon will be brimming.

The guides are called “slate mailers” by professionals who convince candidates the paid-for endorsements are useful to win support from low-information voters. Costs can range from $200 for the Family, Faith and Freedom Association to $1,560 for the Women's Voter Guide.

But the guides can eat up a lot of money without results. In a 2010 school trustee race, one candidate spent $13,162 for endorsements on 19 guides but ended as an also-ran.

Available for purchase from the county's Registrar of Voters are several helpful campaign aids, including lists of registered voters in cities and school and water districts with each registrant's voting history and lists of mail-in voters that can be updated as ballots are returned.

Other election-related items:

--One of the busiest political consultants this year is Lysa Ray, who runs a Santa Ana-based campaign services firm. She's an adviser and campaign treasurer for Craig Young and Tara Campbell in the council race and fills the same role for Councilwoman Peggy Huang.

Ray also is treasurer for two political action committees involved in council and water district contests: Residents for a Better Yorba Linda and Citizens to Protect Our Water, which at last report raised $16,149 to oppose the recall of water directors Robert Kiley and Gary Melton.

--The first husband and wife to compete in the same election cycle is Cristy Parker, candidate for one of three council positions, and Benjamin Parker, candidate for one of two water district seats. Each is endorsed by the Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association.

Previously, Barbara Kiley served two terms on the council and Robert Kiley was elected to the water board, but they didn't appear on the same ballot. Barbara Kiley's wins were in 1992 and 1996, while Robert Kiley's first election was in 2010.

--The county's official Republican Party organization, whose 42 elected members include councilmembers Gene Hernandez and Peggy Huang, endorsed Hernandez, Craig Young and Tara Campbell in the council race.

The GOP group also endorsed Ric Collett and Andrew Hall in the water district contest and is supporting a “no” vote on the recall of directors Robert Kiley and Gary Melton. 

Some Yorba Linda City Council candidates report significant fundraising for the November election

Five of the seven candidates seeking three Yorba Linda City Council positions on the Nov. 8 ballot reported significant fundraising activity this year on state-required financial disclosures filed with City Clerk Marcia Brown by Sept. 12.

Incumbents Gene Hernandez and Craig Young and first-time candidates Tara Campbell, Beth Haney and Cristy Parker have raised $122,190 for the campaign so far, based on semiannual filings and later supplementary statements. Further reports are due Sept. 29 and Oct. 27.

Young raised the most money, $39,986 in donations, with $34,594 on hand at last reporting. His largest donor was the Lincoln Club with $9,000, followed by $5,000 from Costa Mesa-based developer Khosro Khaloghi. Of 74 contributors, 28 had Yorba Linda addresses.

Hernandez raised $26,543, and, with previously reported cash, had $35,017 at last reporting.

His largest contribution was $5,000 from Prime Healthcare of Ontario. Of 76 contributors, 26 had Yorba Linda addresses.

Campbell raised $23,662, the largest in donations and in-kind contributions of $9,171 from parents Jim and Lynn Campbell, with $19,476 on hand at last reporting. Of 44 contributors, 21 had Yorba Linda addresses. Campbell is endorsed by Hernandez and Young, and she returns the support.

Parker has received $16,999 in contributions and loans from two local residents who are active in the Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association, Kay Dotson and Kent Ebinger. Parker is the taxpayers group's sole endorsement in the council contest, coming after the endorsement of four contenders in the regular and recall elections in the water district.

Beth Haney has reported $15,000 in loans from her business, Lux Aesthetic and Wellness Center. Paul Dippolito and Ryan Smith hadn't reported any donations or loans as of Monday.

Not all well-moneyed candidates and causes are winners. Three candidates who spent more than $40,000 each in past elections placed poorly, and the all-time record of $174,150 raised to defeat the “right-to-vote” Measure B in 2006 fell short as the measure edged a 299-vote win.

Among political action committees active in past council races is the taxpayers association, which reported $16,050 in all-local contributions and $12,000 in loans, with $6,791 on hand at last reporting, plus an unpaid $5,500 legal bill. The committee files with the Registrar of Voters in Santa Ana rather than the City Clerk's office.

Residents for a Better Yorba Linda spent $15,000 of an $18,000 donation from the Building Industry of Southern California to support Hernandez in his winning campaign in June for one of six local seats on the county Republican Central Committee – an all-time high for any local candidate for that position. The group had $1,298 on hand at last reporting.

Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation took in $3,505 from two garage sales and had $794 left after paying expenses to three local benefactors. 

Introducing Yorba Linda's seven City Council candidates for the Nov. 8, 2016 election ballot

Seven names will appear on the Nov. 8 election ballot seeking three Yorba Linda City Council seats, adding to the 217 names that have graced the city's 27 prior regular, special and recall council ballots in the 49 years since incorporation.

This week's column will provide a brief introduction to the candidates, and next week's column will explore campaign finances – how the dollars are raised and how they're spent to win votes.

Tara Campbell is a life-long, 23-year resident with a masters degree in public administration from USC. She's a field representative for Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang and campaign coordinator for Chang's state Senate run. She chairs the Parks and Recreation Commission and is active with the Chamber of Commerce, Yorba Linda Women's Club and Girl Scouts.

Paul Dippolito is a small business owner involved in marketing and promotions with Got Country Productions, which produces country music, partner and line dancing events, including shows at Incahoots in Fullerton. He's the only contender who didn't pay $869 for a 200-word statement to be mailed to voters with sample ballots. (Mailings start Sept. 29.)

Beth Haney is an 11-year resident with a masters degree from Loma Linda University and a doctorate from the University of Colorado. She's the founder of the Luxe Aesthetic Center in Yorba Linda and an assistant clinical professor at UCI. She's a board member of the Orange County YMCA and past president of the California Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Eugene Hernandez is a 33-year resident who was elected to the council in 2012. He has a masters degree in management from Cal Poly Pomona and was employed in the Fullerton and Orange police departments before serving as chief in Chino 1998-2006. He chairs the county Fire Authority board and is a member of this county's Republican Central Committee.

Cristy Parker is a 44-year resident and honors graduate of Esperanza High School, Cal State Fullerton and UC Hastings College of Law. She's a retired business adviser who worked with clients in business transactions for 15 years. She was a partner with the Rutan & Tucker law firm 1998-2010 and is a team leader for the community group Preserve Yorba Linda.

Ryan Smith is a 10-year resident with a bachelors degree in economics from Cal State Long Beach and juris doctorate from Trinity Law School of Santa Ana. He's a business attorney and economist who has worked at Northrop Grumman since 2012, currently in procurement contracts involving evaluation and negotiation. He was admitted to the state bar in 2012.

Craig Young is a 20-year resident who was elected to the council in 2012 and survived a 2014 recall attempt. He's an attorney with AlvaradoSmith APC, chairs the county toll roads directors and is an investor and general counsel for the Lincoln Partners. He was elected to a four-year term on the county Republican Central Committee that begins in January.

Voters to cast up to six votes to settle Yorba Linda Water District issues on November election ballot

Registered voters in the Yorba Linda Water District will be casting up to six votes on district-related matters on the Nov. 8 general election ballot as they sort through two issues and the names of eight candidates seeking positions on the agency's five-member board of directors.

Two votes can be cast in the district's regularly scheduled election for two directors to serve four-year terms. In the race are 12-year incumbent Ric Collett, Andrew Hall, John Miller and Benjamin Parker. Mike Beverage, a 24-year director, isn't seeking a seventh term.

Collett and Hall are teaming up in what is expected to be the most contentious election in the district's 57-year history as a public agency, while Miller and Parker will receive support from the Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association.

The two issues involve a “yes” or “no” vote on the separate recalls of two directors who are at the mid-point of their terms, Robert Kiley and Gary Melton. The taxpayers group led a petition drive to qualify the district's first-ever recall vote for the November ballot.

Two more votes can be cast for replacement candidates, Eileen Barme or Brooke Jones for Kiley and Albert Nederhood or Robert Wren for Melton. All voters can select replacements, whether they vote “yes” or “no” on the recalls or leave the lines blank.

If one or both of the recalls succeed, the winning replacement candidate would take office in December and serve the remaining two years of the term of a recalled director. Only director Phil Hawkins, initially appointed in 2010 to replace the late Paul Armstrong, isn't on the ballot.

Interestingly, Barme, who was a member of the City Council-appointed advisory committee dealing with landscape maintenance issues, and Wren, a retired Sheriff's lieutenant who headed the city's police services during the transition from Brea, both oppose the recalls.

Jones is a retired engineer and educator, and Nederhood is an educator and businessman. They are expected to be supported by the taxpayers association. All eight candidates paid $947 to have 200-word statements mailed to registered voters with sample ballots.

The two recalls made the ballot after petitioners collected more than the required 9,520 signatures. The Kiley petition had 11,900 signers, and the Registrar of Voters validated 9,570. The Melton petition had 11,888 signers, and again, 9,570 were approved.

A total 11,457 signatures were checked for Kiley and 11,484 for Melton. Top five reasons for invalidating signatures: not registered to vote, registered at a different address, signed more than once, registered out of the district and signatures didn't match.

At last count, 85.6 percent of the district's registered voters reside in Yorba Linda, 40,515 of the total 47,346. The remaining 14.4 percent, 6,831, live in Placentia, Anaheim and Brea and three county islands, East Placentia, Country Club and Fairlynn, the latter two in Yorba Linda.