Staff Reports
Eastvale, CA – As many have claimed they aren’t going to vote in this November election due to the choice of candidates, the City of Eastvale will need you to go out and vote anyway, as three seats are up on the City Council.
The City Council previously took action at the April 27, 2016 City Council meeting to initiate the process of converting to by-district voting for the November, 2016 election. The Council approved Resolution No. 16- 09 initiating the by-district process, and District 2 and 5 are for the full term of four-years and a Councilmember from District 1 for a partial term of two-years.
Districts 1, 2, and 5 are up for election and there are eight residents who are vying for those seats. In District 1, which encompasses the north east side of Eastvale, from Cloverdale through the Ontario border, you have newcomers Mario Marroquin and Todd Rigby vying for a council seat. District 2, which covers the complete opposite of 1, encompassing the mid to north side of Eastvale, zigzagging from Schleisman, Scholar Way, through Citrus, Harrison, Chandler, ending by River Road at the Corona border, you have emcumbant Joseph Tessari against newcomer Bashar Madani. And finally in District 5, current Mayor Ike Bootsma is defending his seat against Raul Gutierrez, Robert Hetrick, and Brandon Wilson Plott. District 5 covers the west side of Walnut from Archibald Ave to the Chino border.
The City Clerk is the local elections administrator and coordinates with the County of Riverside in the conduct of Municipal elections. This includes, but is not limited to, the preparation of necessary resolutions calling for General and Special Municipal Elections and declaring the result of the election, the coordination of the candidate nomination process and the receipt and processing of initiative, referendum and recall petitions. Regular elections are consolidated with statewide elections, scheduled on the first Tuesday of November of even numbered years to fill expired City Council terms. All election services are provided according the California Elections Code, according to the city of Eastvale’s website.
City Council members are elected at-large for a four year term. Council Members serve “staggered” terms, meaning that either 2 or 3 seats are open for election every two years. Council Members receive $400 per month stipend as compensation for their service.
Qualifications for Candidacy. To qualify as a candidate for member of the City Council, you must reside and be registered to vote within the jurisdiction at the time nomination papers are issued. More specifically, you must be:
- Be registered voters at their current residence in the City of Eastvale
- Residing in the district in which they are running
- A citizen of the United States
- 18 years of age or older
- Not disqualified from holding office by the Constitution or laws of the State of California.
To become a candidate, you must first be issued a Nomination Paper which specifies the office you are seeking. You must obtain the signatures of at least 20 and not more than 30 registered voters within the City of Eastvale. A number of additional forms are required to be filed.
The nomination period ran from July 18, 2016 through early August 12, 2016. Write-in candidates must file a statement of write-in candidacy, a nomination paper and a Statement of Economic Interests, as well as other forms, during the period of early September 2014 through late October 2014. Signatures and voter registration information on the nomination paper will be verified in the same manner as a regular nomination paper. Write-in candidates’ names donot appear on the ballot or in the sample ballot pamphlet.
Voter registration forms are available at all public libraries, post offices and City Hall. To receive a registration form by mail, please call the Riverside County Registrar of Voters office at (951) 486-7200 or the City Clerk’s office at (951) 703-4420. Completed registration forms can be hand-delivered to the Registrar’s office located at 2724 Gateway Drive, Riverside, CA 92507 or Eastvale City Hall located at 12363 Limonite Avenue, Eastvale, CA 91752 or dropped off in any U.S. mailbox. No postage is necessary. For additional voter registration information visit www.voteinfo.net. (most information courtesy of the City of Eastvale)