BY ALEX CANTATORE
Staff Reporter
This year’s Turlock City Council election may still be almost four months away, playing the role of undercard to the Nov. 4 Presidential Election, but contenders are already beginning the walk down the long road to election night. The 2008 campaign trail formally kicked off on July 14, as nomination papers became available from the Turlock City Clerk’s office.
“At some point, if they want to run, they’re going to have to come see me,” Turlock City Clerk Rhonda Greenlee said. “There are things that people running need to know.”
At least six potential candidates have already announced their interest in the race, five of whom have sat down for an hour-long appointment with Greenlee so far. Interested parties must fill out a laundry list of forms, find the support of fellow Turlockers, and meet certain residential criteria in order to make the ballot in November.
“There’s so many rules it’s hard to remember them all,” Greenlee said.
While applicants have until Aug. 8 to submit all of the paperwork needed to be listed on the ballot, it may take a good portion of that time to figure out the intricacies of the paperwork.
Incumbent Vice Mayor Kurt Vander Weide is expected to be joined by past candidates Amy Bublak, Mary Jackson, Jeremy Rocha, David “DJ” Fransen, and newcomer Dave Truax in the battle to navigate the complicated web of rules and regulations and the subsequent race for two available council seats.
“I would guess there’ll be close to ten (candidates running),” Modesto Police Officer and Turlock Planning Commissioner Bublak said. “I’m glad to see a lot of people involved, it shows people want to be a part of the city.”
No candidates have yet filed their application to run for the five-member board, which holds the sole legislative decision making power in Turlock. The City Manager and City Attorney, both of whom are hired by the council, assist the council in their legislative role.
The only hard and true requirements to become a member of the council are that candidates must be registered voters and residents of Turlock at least 15 days prior to filing nomination papers. If an applicant clears that hoop, they’re in for a great deal of paper work, even if Turlock has attempted to streamline things as much as possible.
“I tried to make it as easy as possible,” Greenlee said.
Potential candidates are given a tabbed binder with all relevant information to the election, including a Code of Conduct, Fair Campaign Practices, Turlock’s sign and mailing ordinances, a complicated conflict of interest and economic statement, and various other worksheets and information packets. Everything that must be returned to the city is located in the front pocket of the binder, with a checklist that helps candidates make sure everything is completed.
The most important piece of the packet is the nomination form. In order to be eligible for the ballot, candidates must receive 20 valid, hand-written signatures from registered Turlock voters endorsing their run for office.
The Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder’s Office verifies each signature and address is valid and tracks that nominators do not sign the forms of more candidates than there are seats available for an office. For example, as there are two seats available this November, endorsers can only support two candidates.
Before the number of valid signatures is tallied, the candidate says an oath that he or she personally watched each person write and sign the nomination papers with their own hand. Should the candidate fall short of 20 valid nominators on the 30 position form, due to either repeats or non-residents, the candidate is sent back out to find more signatures with a new, additional form. The original is never returned to the candidate.
“We’ve had it happen before,” Greenlee said. “If they had filled their 30 slots they probably would have been okay, but they didn’t.”
At the same time the nomination papers are submitted, candidates also have the opportunity to submit a candidate statement to be included in the voter information guide.
Candidates have just 200 words to cover their education and qualifications for office. Once submitted, the statement cannot be changed; if a candidate is unhappy, the only option is withdrawal up until the filing deadline.
Should a candidate use improper grammar or misspell words, the statement is printed as submitted. Should a candidate miscount the words, going over the maximum, the statement stops abruptly upon reaching 200 words.
While running for office is otherwise free, the county does require a $1,000 deposit for applicants who submit a statement to recoup printing fees. The statement is also translated into Spanish for voters who do not speak English as a native language.
Also required at the time nomination papers are submitted is a three-word designation to run underneath the candidate’s name on the ballot.
The designation can only list the current principal professions, vocations, or occupations of the candidate. Certain words are restricted, including “incumbent,” the names of political parties, and references to racial, religious, or ethnic groups.
“If it’s not black and white to me, I’m getting a legal opinion,” Greenlee said.
Should a candidate complete all of the required paperwork, take the myriad oaths, and manage to become one of the top two vote getters in November, he or she has little more to look forward to than twice-monthly meetings for four years and a $500 a month stipend. But the seat is so in demand that none of the candidates seem to be sitting on their heels waiting to get involved in the race.
The new councilmembers may not take office until Dec. 9, but Fransen’s first fundraiser will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at On Broadway. Unfortunately, that’s the same night that the bike park will be going before the current council for approval.
“I’ll have to leave to go over to City Hall real quick. I guess that shows exactly how I am; maybe I’ll look like a super candidate, or maybe I’ll just look like a poor planner,” he laughed.
To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.
Originally published in the Turlock Journal 7/19/2008.
Retrieved from the Turlock Journal Web site.