The filing period for residents interested in running for one of two available seats in the 2020 Santa Clarita City Council election is set to open Monday, and remain open until August.

Registered voters in Santa Clarita are set to have the opportunity to elect two City of Santa Clarita council members to four-year terms, seats currently held by Mayor Cameron Smyth and Councilman Bob Kellar, on Nov. 3 alongside the Statewide General Election.

The filing period for candidates is set to open Monday, July 13, and last until Friday, Aug. 7. In the event that any incumbent council member does not file by 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, the filing period for all non-incumbent candidates would be extended to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12. 

In order to be considered, prospective City Council candidates must collect the signatures of 20 to 40 registered City voters prior to filing nomination papers. Each candidate is also required to file a Statement of Economic Interests, disclosing investments and interests in real property at the time the nomination paper is returned for filing, officials said. There is no charge for filing nomination documents.

For a fee, candidates may also prepare a statement to be included in the Official Sample Ballot, which is mailed to voters. Statements may include the candidate’s name, age, occupation and a brief description of no more than 200 words stating their education and qualifications. The estimated fees are $3,100 for printing the candidate statement in English only and $6,200 for English and Spanish translation to be printed in the Official Sample Ballot. The fees are due when nomination documents are filed.

New this year and ahead of the nomination period, candidates who have filed the Form 501 Candidate Intention Statement are expected to be invited to a Virtual Candidate Orientation. The Virtual Candidate Orientation replaces the traditional in-person 45-minute appointments held during the nomination period but covers the same materials while allowing for social distancing.

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Following the candidate orientation, nomination documents are to be made available by appointment beginning July 13, 2020, the start of the nomination period, in the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall.

Anyone wishing to lend their signature to a potential candidate’s nomination paper must be a registered voter residing in the City of Santa Clarita at the time a nomination paper is issued. 

Each eligible voter may nominate up to two prospective candidates.

The top two vote-getters are expected to be sworn into office on December 8, 2020, prior to the regularly-scheduled City Council meeting.

The City Clerk’s office can be found in Suite 120, located at 23920 Valencia Boulevard. Election office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except during holidays. 

Prospective candidates should call the City Clerk’s Office at (661) 259-2489 to schedule appointments to obtain and to return materials for candidacy.

For more information on the 2020 General Municipal Election, including the results of past City Council elections, please visit here.

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