La Verne Chamber Of Commerce: City Council Nomination Papers Available Starting Valentine's Day, Feb. 14

Press release from La Verne Chamber of Commerce:

January 27, 2022

La  Verne  residents  have an  opportunity  to  serve  their  neighbors, show love  for  their
community and help shape the future of the city by pursuing openings on the La Verne City Council. The nomination  period  for  all  those  interested  in  running  for  council  in  the  upcoming  June  2022  General Municipal Election begins Valentine’s Day, February 14 and all paperwork must be submitted by March 14 at 5 p.m.

This will be La Verne’s first election since moving to a by-district electoral system with five  council districts. Mayor Tim Hepburn, Mayor Pro Tem Muir Davis and Council Member Robin Carder’s  current terms end in 2022. This means that the June 7, 2022 election will fill these three seats each for a four-year council member term for Districts 1, 3 and 4. Two of these districts are north of the 210 Freeway, while the other district captures most of the Downtown La Verne area.

On a different but related note, La Verne voters will now elect one council representative based on the district where they reside. This means only voters in Districts 1, 3 and 4 will be voting for a council member during  the  upcoming  election.  Residents  can  determine  which  district  they  live  in  by  accessing  this interactive map.

The council acts as a part-time “board of directors” with a focus on determining the city’s policy direction, appointing the city manager to conduct the city's day-to-day affairs with staff. Because of this, regular attendance of city council meetings is very important. Meetings are typically held in the evenings on the first  and  third  Mondays  of  each  month,  with  special  meetings  or  workshops  taking  place  as  needed. Additionally, all council members attend various committee and board meetings throughout the region and  county  to  which  they  are  assigned,  as  well  as  act  as  city  liaisons  with  various  organizations  and represent the city at events. Council members receive a stipend, which is closely regulated by State law, of  $519  per  month.  
Additional  stipends  and  reporting  requirements  may  apply  for  serving  on  certain outside agency boards.

In addition to considering the previously discussed responsibilities, to be eligible to become a city council candidate for District 1, 3 or 4, La Verne residents must meet the following criteria:
•    Be at least 18 years of age and a registered voter.
•    Reside  within  the  La  Verne  electoral  district  boundary  they  are  running  for  at  the  time  the nomination paper is issued and, if elected, live within that district for the duration of his/her term.
•    Complete and return all required nomination and candidate forms and documents to the 
La Verne City Clerk by the deadline of March 14 at 5 p.m. This deadline may be extended to March 16 at 5 p.m. should an incumbent decide not to file.

All forms required for nomination and election to the La Verne City Council are furnished by and filed with the La Verne Assistant City Clerk, Lupe Gaeta Estrella. Appointments to obtain the nomination papers and candidate guidelines are required to ensure ample time to thoroughly review the filing requirements and answer any questions. To set up an appointment, residents can call (909) 596-8726.

This press release was produced by La Verne Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.