Signups begin to seek city council, school trustee and water director positions on November ballot

Signups begin Monday, July 16, to run for some four dozen elective City Council, school trustee and water director positions representing North County residents that are scheduled for the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

The signup period runs through Aug. 10 but is extended through Aug. 15 for offices where an incumbent does not file for re-election. Council position signups are at city halls, while school and water board candidates file at the Registrar of Voters, 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building C, Santa Ana.

Potential candidates – especially first-time contenders – are advised to begin the signup process early, since several mandatory documents must be completed before a name is certified for the ballot.

Among required documents are a declaration of candidacy, campaign finance report and ballot designation and candidate information papers. Signing of a “code of fair campaign practices” outlining “principles of decency, honesty and fair play” is optional.

Also, council positions may require submission of a nomination petition with a specified number of registered voter signatures. Contact city clerks for specific city requirements.

One important aspect of the local governing positions is that Orange County's two major official party organizations, the Democratic and Republican central committees, view the offices as training grounds offering valuable name recognition for seeking partisan positions.

For example, Phillip Chen, who represents Brea, La Habra, Placentia and Yorba Linda in the state Assembly, began his political career as a school trustee, and Sharon Quirk-Silva, who serves Buena Park, Fullerton and La Palma in the Assembly, started on a city council.

And Ling Ling Chang, sworn in to her state Senate position June 25 to replace the recalled Josh Newman and who represents all seven North County cities, was a city councilwoman.

Other council members and school trustees dotted the June ballot seeking higher offices.

Although council, school trustee and water director positions are non-partisan, the party central committees pick candidates to endorse for the offices. Candidates trumpet these endorsements in automated phone calls and on multiple mailings to the party's voters.

Open water director positions include a North County slot for the Municipal Water District held 18 years by 49-year Yorba Linda resident Brett Barbe, and three on the Yorba Linda Water District board.

Three positions are open at the North Orange County Community College District, Brea-Olinda Unified School District, Fullerton Joint Union High School District and Buena Park, Centralia, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra, Lowell and Savanna elementary districts, and two at the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District and Anaheim Union High School District.

Three seats are open on the Brea and Buena Park city councils and two on the Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia and Yorba Linda councils.