On Last Day to Run, Few Council Candidates Have Stepped Up

Today is the last chance to take charge of the city.

Candidates wishing to run in the Nov. 6 election for the open seats on the Los Alamitos and Seal Beach City Councils have until 5 p.m. today to file their nomination paperwork with the city clerk.

In Seal Beach, there may not even be an election. If no one else enters the race by the end of the day, the two incumbents will be uncontested. The only people to pull and file papers to run are incumbents David Sloan and Gary Miller for City Council and Linda Devine for city clerk.

In Los Alamitos, the political playing field is slightly more active, but as of Thursday afternoon, incumbent Councilman Kenneth Stephens is the only person who has submitted nomination papers and qualified to run in the race for two open seats on the council. However, there are at least six other candidates giving it serious thought. Incumbent Marilyn Poe has pulled nomination papers along with former Mayor Dean Grose, Tom Poe, Richard Murphy, Demetria Tan-Devaney and a mystery politician who pulled nomination papers but declined to give his or her name.

In the next term, the five-member City Council will face a number of major issues including the expansion of the Los Alamitos Medical Center, the impact to the community of the 405 Freeway expansion project as well as the ongoing West County Connector project, planning for the Los Alamitos Boulevard corridor, and defense of the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base should it become vulnerable in the military’s upcoming round of base closures.

In Seal Beach, council-members are elected by residents in the district they serve. In Seal Beach, the seats held by Miller in the College Park East district and Sloan in College Park West and parts of Leisure World are open.

Some major issues facing Seal Beach City Leaders over the next term include, the development of a new community pool, the housing project on the former DWP property, the demolition of Seal Beach Boulevard as part of the West County Connector project, the proposed 405 Freeway expansion and toll road, and defense of the Navy base should it be targeted for closure in the military’s round of upcoming closures, and buying the 5-acre parcel of space for a park next to the existing Marina Park.

Los Alamitos Candidates

• To run in Los Alamitos, would-be candidates may obtain Nomination Papers and a Candidate’s Packet from the City Clerk’s office.
• Candidates must be 18 years old and a registered voter residing within the city boundaries. Each nomination paper must be signed by not less than 20 nor more than 30 persons registered to vote in the city.
• If any incumbent has not filed nomination papers by the end of today(August 10), 2012 at 4:00 p.m., the nominating period will be extended to Wednesday, August 15, 2012 for all interested persons other than incumbents to file.
• Each candidate is required to file a Statement of Economic Interests disclosing investments, income, business positions, and interests in real property when the Nomination Papers are returned for filing.
• There is $25 charge for filing nomination papers.
• Candidates may also prepare a statement that may include their name and a brief description of no more than 200 words setting forth the candidate's education and qualifications. The statement is filed with the Nomination Papers and is included in the sample ballot materials mailed to voters. The charge to each candidate for providing this service is estimated at $600 and is payable at the time of filing nomination papers.
• All forms required for nomination and election to municipal office are furnished by and filed with the city clerk’s office. Although it is not necessary to call ahead to schedule a time to take out your nomination papers, it is recommended that prospective candidates do so to ensure ample time to thoroughly review the filing requirements and to answer any questions. The process takes approximately 30 minutes.
• The city clerk's office is at 3191 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos, CA 90720 and is open between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday, and closed alternate Fridays.
• For further information, call the clerk’s office at (562) 431-3538, Ext. 301.

Seal Beach Candidates

• To run in Seal Beach, would-be candidates may obtain nomination papers and a candidate’s packet from the city clerk’s.
• Candidates must be 18 years old and a registered voter residing within the district boundaries. Each nomination paper must be signed by not less than 20 nor more than 30 persons registered to vote in the candidate’s district.
• There is a $288 fee for filing nomination papers. The 200-word candidate’s statement costs $550.
• The position of the Seal Beach city clerk is also up for reelection. The same deadlines apply to file for the city clerk’s election. The fee for the candidate’s statement is $700.
• To file nomination papers in Seal Beach, go to the city clerk's office at 211 8th St., Seal Beach, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., today (Aug. 10).
• For more information, call (562) 431-2527 Ext. 1305.