COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Colusa County residents interested in serving in local government will soon have an opportunity to file for office as candidate filing opens July 13 for the Nov. 3 General Election.
Cristy Jayne Edwards, Colusa County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, announced the filing period this week and encouraged prospective candidates to begin preparing early. The election includes seats on city councils, school boards, fire districts, recreation districts, public utility districts and other local governing boards throughout the county.
The official candidate filing period opens Monday, July 13, and closes at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7.
If an incumbent officeholder does not file by the deadline, the filing period for that office will be extended through 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, for qualified candidates other than the incumbent. The extension does not apply to offices that do not have an incumbent.
Declarations of candidacy and other required filing documents for most offices will be available beginning July 13 from the Colusa County Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters Office, 546 Jay St., Suite 200, in Colusa. Candidate handbooks also will be available during normal business hours.
Edwards said there are no filing fees for any of the offices on the ballot. Candidates may choose to submit a statement of qualifications for inclusion in the county voter information guide by paying the applicable printing costs when filing their candidacy paperwork.
Candidates seeking office in the City of Colusa or City of Williams must obtain and file nomination papers and other candidacy documents through their respective city halls. City candidates must collect at least 20 but no more than 30 valid signatures from registered voters within their city.
In general, candidates must be registered voters residing within the district and, where applicable, the trustee area they seek to represent.
The following offices are scheduled to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot: Arbuckle-College City Fire Protection District, two seats. Arbuckle Public Utility District, two four-year seats and one two-year seat. Arbuckle Recreation and Park District, one four-year seat and two two-year seats. Bear Valley Indian Valley Fire Protection District, two seats. City of Colusa, two City Council seats. City of Williams, three City Council seats and one city treasurer seat. Colusa County Board of Education, Trustee Areas 3, 4 and 5. Colusa County Water District, two seats. Colusa Unified School District, two seats. Cortina Community Services District, three seats. Glenn-Colusa Fire Protection District, one Division 3 seat. Maxwell Fire Protection District, three seats. Maxwell Public Utility District, two seats. Maxwell Recreation and Park District, one four-year seat and two two-year seats. Maxwell Unified School District, one four-year seat and one two-year seat. Pierce Joint Unified School District, two seats. Princeton Joint Unified School District, three seats. Stony Creek Joint Unified School District, one four-year Trustee Area 5 seat and one two-year Trustee Area 4 seat. Williams Unified School District, two four-year seats and one two-year seat.
The deadline to submit arguments for or against any county measure appearing on the November ballot is Aug. 17.
Edwards also reminded voters that the Nov. 3 election will again be conducted as an all-mail ballot election. Every registered voter will receive a ballot by mail, while in-person voting and ballot return options will be available throughout the voting period.
The Colusa County Elections Office Vote Center at 546 Jay St. in Colusa will be open weekdays from Oct. 5 through Nov. 3. A second Vote Center will operate on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Education Village Multipurpose Room, 499 Marguerite Drive in Williams.
A 24-hour accessible drive-through ballot drop box will be available at 260 Sixth St. in Colusa beginning Oct. 5 through 8 p.m. on Election Day.
All ballots will be counted centrally at the Colusa County Elections Office, Hall of Records, 546 Jay St., Suite 200, in Colusa. The ballot counting process is open to the public.
Edwards encouraged anyone considering a run for office to review the qualifications and filing requirements before the filing period opens. Election calendars, candidate information and a list of incumbent officeholders are available through the Colusa County Elections Office. Additional information is available by calling 530-458-0500 or visiting http://www.countyofcolusa.gov/elections.