By Anthony Saude

Chino Valley– The nomination period for candidates to file their intent to run for several races in the Chino Valley opened July 16, and will close at 4:30 p.m. Friday, August 10 for the November 6 election.

The seats available include the city councils of Chino and Chino Hills, the Chino Valley School District board, and the Chino Valley Fire District board.

 

If none of the incumbents file their forms by August 10, the nomination period will be extended five additional days until Wednesday August, 15.

Nomination papers for city council candidates and the fire board are available from the respective agencies. Candidates for the school board may obtain the proper paperwork from the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters office, located at 777 E. Rialto Ave. in San Bernardino.

Chino Hills

For the first time in the history of the city, Chino Hills will implement a district elections system. This means that residents will be voting for a councilperson that lives within the district they are running.

Under a district election system, residents vote only for candidates in the district in which they live.

After being threatened with a lawsuit in 2016 by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund the council voted to change at the large election system.

Mayor Peter Rogers, Councilmen Ray Marquez and Brian Johsz are up for re-election in November seeking four-year terms.

Mr. Marquez would represent District 1 that generally includes the western area of the city. Mr. Rogers would represent District 2 that generally includes the northern end of the city. Brian Johsz would represent District 4 that generally includes the western end of the city. For a map of the boundaries, visit chinohills.org/districtelectionsmap.

Chino

Three Chino City Council seats will be on the ballot in November: The District 1 seat held by appointee Paul Rodriguez, the District 2 seat held by appointee Gary George, and the District 3 seat of longtime councilman Earl Elrod.

District 1 is a short term of two years. District 2 and 3 are full terms of four years.

Mr. George was appointed to the council in early 2017 after Eunice Ulloa was elected mayor. He has announced that he will run for the District 3 seat which represents the area where he lives.

Mr. Rodriguez was appointed to the council in 2017 to fill the remaining term of Glenn Duncan who retired. He has filed the proper intent to run forms with the city clerk’s office that allows candidates to fundraise for the election.

Dorothy Pineda has also filed her intent to run form with the city clerk for the District 2 seat held by Mr. George.

Longtime Chino Valley Unified School District Board member Sylvia Orozco announced in June about her plans to run for the District 2 council seat as well.

For the specific boundaries of the districts please visit the city of Chino’s district map at cityofchino.org/home/showdocument?id=16168.

Chino Valley Fire District

The seats of Chino Valley Fire District board members Mike Kreeger, Ed Gray and Harvey Luth will be on the ballot for the at-large election in November.

Mr. Gray, a Chino resident the longest serving board member was appointed to the board in 2003 and has since won four-year terms in 2004, 2009, and 2013 elections.

Mr. Kreeger, of Chino Hills, a former Chino Hills public works commissioner and the top vote-getter in 2013 elections will run for his second four-year term.

Mr. Luth was appointed to the fire board in September 2017 to fill the void created when Brian Johsz was appointed to the Chino Hills City Council.

Mr. Luth was a Chino planning commissioner from 2001 to 2017 before his appointment to the fire board.

School Board

Voters will have an opportunity to elect two new Chino Valley school board members for seats are currently held by Sylvia Orozco and Pam Feix, both seats are four-year terms.

Mrs. Orozco said she will not seek another term on the school board, this year she plans to run for the District 2 seat on the Chino City Council.

Ms. Feix, a retired teacher, announced she will not run for a second term on the school board.

Former school board member John Pruitt announced that he will be running for a seat on the school board.

Retired teacher Don Bridge, a former Associated Chino Teachers union president also plans to run.

Joe Schaffer, a parent in the district and a Chino Hills Parks and Recreation Commissioner since 2017 will be seeking a spot on the board as well this election.