Monday is the day to start filing

Barbara Diamond

Monday is the first day candidates for city offices can pick up and

submit nominating papers to the city clerk’s office.

Each city candidate must obtain signatures of 20 locally

registered voters. The city clerk verifies the signatures. The

deadline to file petitions is Aug. 11 if no incumbents are running,

otherwise it’s Aug. 6.

Three candidates for City Council, one candidate for city clerk

and one candidate for city treasurer have already filed a 501

documenting their intent to run. The statement must be filed before a

candidate can solicit, accept or spend any personal funds used for an

election.

City Clerk candidate Martha Anderson and council candidates Cheryl

Kinsman and Wayne Baglin, both incumbents, and Jane Egly also have

filed their 410 documents, signifying they have raised at least

$1,000 to qualify for committee status.

Anderson, the deputy city clerk for almost five years, announced

herself in January as a candidate to replace City Clerk Verna

Rollinger, who will retire at the end of her term in December. As of

this week, no other candidate has challenged Anderson.

City Treasurer Laura Parisi’s term also is up this year, and she

will run again. She was unopposed in the last election.

ELECTION FAIR

The League of Women Voters has invited a diverse roster of

community groups, political organizations and candidates to

participate in an Election Festival to be held from noon to 4 p.m. at

Laguna Beach High School.

“I am happy to report that the festival has blossomed into what

will be a tremendous community event aimed at voter participation and

education prior to the November election,” said Linda Brown, co-chair

of the Laguna Beach unit of the league.

Participating groups will be able to publicize who they are, what

they do and which issues are important to them. Any group is welcome

to participate.

The Laguna Beach Republican Club voted at its June meeting to

appropriate $50 to participate in the festival.

All candidates have been, or will be, invited to attend, staff a

table and appear in mini-forums.

The league is also looking for proponents and opponents of the 14

propositions on the state ballot to staff information tables at the

festival.

The high school’s Interact Club will provide food concessions.

Community Learning Center students will supply free water stations.

Youthful local musician Evren Ozan will perform on Native American

flutes.

For more information about participating, call (949) 494-9928.

ELECTION DATE SET

The City Council passed a resolution June 15 setting Nov. 2 for

the General Municipal Election and requesting consolidation with the

statewide general election.

The council, which would normally meet that night, will meet just

once in November, on the 16th.

Contributions to Election ’04 Notebook are welcomed. Write to

Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652, hand-deliver to

384 Forest Ave., Suite 22; call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979.