Council candidates have until mid-January to file papers for April election.
The filing period for Santa Clarita City residents interested in running in the April 8, 2008 City Council election opens Monday, Dec. 17 and closes Jan. 11, 2008.
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If any incumbent chooses not to file nomination papers by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, the nominating period will be extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 16 for candidates other than incumbents.
Two seats with four-year terms will be up in this election; those currently held by Bob Kellar and TimBen Boydston. The new Councilmembers will be sworn in to office on April 22, 2008.
Registered voters residing in the city of Santa Clarita may nominate prospective candidates. To be eligible, candidates must be 18 years or age or older, a citizen of the United States, a resident of the city and a registered voter at the time nomination papers are issued.
Nomination papers and candidate handbooks are available at the City Clerk’s office on the third floor of City Hall at 23920 Valencia Boulevard. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays.
It is strongly suggested that prospective candidates make an appointment with the City Clerk to review the available material. The process to take out or return materials for candidacy is estimated to take about 45 minutes.
A minimum of 20, but not more than 30 city residents must sign the nomination paper. Each candidate is also required to file a Statement of Economic Interest disclosing investments and interests in real property at the time nomination papers are returned for filing. There is no charge for filing nomination papers.
For a fee, candidates may also prepare a statement to be included in the sample ballot materials and mailed to voters, which includes their name, age and occupation and a brief (no more than 200 words) description stating his/her education and qualifications. For printing in English, the fee is estimated at $1,000, plus $250 for the Spanish translation for a total deposit of $1,250 payable at the time the candidate files nomination papers.
For more information, call City Clerk Sharon Dawson at (661) 255-4391.