To: Board of Supervisors
From: Clerk/Recorder
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Appointment of Special District Directors
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive staff report; and
2. Appoint attached slates of individuals to special district governing boards, pursuant to California Elections Code, Sections 10515 and 10517.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
Humboldt County currently has 47 special districts with elected governing boards, including community services, fire, water, and other districts. Special district boards are typically comprised of three or five positions, including two-year and four-year positions. In years past, all district board terms would expire biennially in odd-numbered years. With the shift by most special districts to even-numbered year elections, there are only eight special districts, including four community services districts, three fire protection districts, and one park district participating in this year’s odd-numbered year election.
The elections process commences with a candidate filing period during which time qualified Humboldt County residents can file candidacy papers to serve on a district board in the jurisdiction in which they live. Pursuant to California Elections Code, Section 10517, when the number of qualified candidates filing for a position exceeds the number of seats available, the county elections official, the Registrar of Voters, will conduct a general district election to fill the available seats. When the number of qualified candidates filing for a seat equals the number of seats available and no petition requesting an election has been filed, California Elections Code, Section 10515(a) directs the officer conducting the election, the Registrar of Voters, to request the supervising authority, the Board of Supervisors, appoint qualified candidates who have filed candidacy papers; the supervising authority will make these appointments in lieu of an election. However, when the number of qualified candidates is fewer than the number of seats available, California Elections Code, Section 10515(b) directs the supervising authority to appoint a person who is qualified as of the date an election would have been held.
The candidacy filing period for the 2025 Uniform Districts Election was held from July 15, 2025, through Aug. 13, 2025.
At the close of the filing period, all eight districts had fewer candidate filings than seats available for one or more open seat(s). California Elections Code, Section 10515(b), directs the Board of Supervisors to appoint a person who is qualified as of Nov. 4, 2025, the date the Uniformed Districts Election. The Humboldt County Office of Elections notified districts of the status of available seats. Attachment 1 summarizes candidates who have been nominated by district governing boards; Attachment 2 provides copies of district recommendations for appointment.
As of the close of the filing period, and after asking for recommendations, two districts still have one or more vacancy: Blue Lake Fire Protection District and Northern Humboldt Recreation & Park District.
Of the district nominations received by the Office of Elections, all districts recommended people who meet minimum qualifications as prescribed by Government Code, Section 24001, which states “a person is not eligible to a county or district office, unless he or she is a registered voter of the county or district in which the duties of the office are to be exercised at the time that nomination papers are issued to the person or at the time of the appointment of the person”.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Special Districts
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
There is no financial impact to the county associated with bringing this item to the Board other than staff time to prepare the item.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impact:
None.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Community Services Districts
Fire Districts
Parks District
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose to appoint qualified voters from the respective districts other than those listed in Attachments 1 and 2.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Appointments to district boards based on Recommendations
Attachment 2: District Recommendations for Appointment
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A