To: Board of Supervisors
From: Clerk/Recorder
Agenda Section: Consent
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
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund
Special Districts
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, district board terms would expire biennially in odd-numbered years. Even the shift by many special districts to even-numbered year elections, 38 special districts, including 22 community services districts, 13 fire protection districts, one harbor district, and two other districts are participating in this year’s even-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 2022 Statewide General Election was held from July 18, 2022 through August 12, 2022. Attachment 1 summarizes the results of candidacy for the 2022 Statewide General Election. At the close of the filing period, 2 of the 38 districts received a greater number of candidate filings than seats available for one or more open seats. California Elections Code, Section 10517, directs the Registrar of Voters to conduct a general election to fill the available seats. At the close of the filing period, 9 of the 38 districts received the same number of candidate filings as seats available for one or more open seats. California Elections Code, Section 10515(a), directs the Board of Supervisors to appoint these qualified candidates in lieu of an election. At the close of the filing period, 27 of the 38 districts received fewer candidate filings than seats available for one or more open seats. California Elections Code, Section 10515(b), directs the Board of Supervisors to appoint a person who is qualified as of November 8, 2022, the date the Statewide General Election was held. The Humboldt County Office of Elections notified districts of available seats and requested districts make recommendations to fill available seats; 14 of the districts notified made recommendations (Attachment 2). As of the close of the filing period, eleven of the 38 districts still have a vacancy: Carlotta Community Services District, Miranda Community Services District, Phillipsville Community Services District, Weott Community Services District, Arcata Fire Protection District, Ferndale Fire Protection District, Humboldt No. 1 Fire Protection District, Myers Flat Fire Protection District, Redway Fire Protection District, Telegraph Ridge Fire Protection District, and Willow Creek Fire Protection 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”.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by providing community-appropriate levels of service .
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Community Services Districts
Fire Protection Districts
Water Districts
Sanitary District
Harbor District
Healthcare District
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors could choose to appoint qualified voters from the respective districts other than those listed in Attachment 2.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Candidacy Results Summary
Attachment 2: District Recommendations
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A