To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor
Staff Name and Phone Number: Deva Marie Proto, (707) 565-1877
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
November 7, 2023, Uniform District Election, Appointments
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt the resolution appointing nominees as district directors for select special district boards. (Fifth District)
end
Executive Summary:
Pursuant to California Elections Code (EC) §§ 1303 and 14052, a general district election was scheduled to take place on November 7, 2023, to elect district directors to seven special district boards having odd-year elections in Sonoma County. For contests that had one or more nominees but insufficient nominees to trigger an election, EC § 10515(a) provides for the appointment of those nominees by the supervising authority as long as no petition has been presented to the Registrar of Voters Office from the districts requesting a general election be held.
The attached resolution includes the names of the candidates who qualified for appointment to their respective special district boards pursuant to the above-stated provision of state law.
Discussion:
A total of 12 candidates qualified for 21 seats in seven special districts up for election this November (see table below):
|
Jurisdiction/Office |
# Seats |
# Candidates Qualified |
# Vacant Seats |
|
Occidental Community Services District, Full Term |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
Occidental Community Services District, Short Term |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Bodega Bay Public Utility District, Office #1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Bodega Bay Public Utility District, Office #2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Bodega Bay Public Utility District, Office #3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Monte Rio Recreation and Park District |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Russian River Recreation and Park District |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Russian River County Water District |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
Sonoma Mountain County Water District |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Timber Cover County Water District |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
Total |
21 |
12 |
9 |
Each of the offices for which the 12 aforementioned special district candidates filed did not end up having sufficient nominees to trigger an election. EC § 10515(a) states that candidates in this situation shall be appointed by the “supervising authority” to their respective district boards. In Sonoma County, the supervising authority is the Board of Supervisors (BOS). Each person so appointed shall take office and serve exactly as if elected at the general district that was scheduled for November 7, 2023. The appointments shall be made “at a regular or special meeting held prior to the Monday before the first Friday in December in which the election is held,” which this year is November 27, 2023.
In the case of offices for which there remain vacancies due to fewer candidates having filed than there were available seats, state law provides that the supervising authority shall appoint any person who is qualified to hold such office on the date when the general election would have been held (November 7, 2023). Memos have already been sent to the Clerk of the Board, supervisors, and various staff listing these vacancies and the specific qualifications for appointment. It will be incumbent upon the BOS to identify qualified candidates and make the necessary appointments to fill these vacant seats. Should appointment be recommended, staff will return for required future Board action. This year all vacant seats are for special districts located exclusively in the Fifth Supervisorial District.
Upon adoption of this resolution, the Registrar of Voters Office will issue certificates of election to the respective nominees.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
On September 27, 2022, the BOS adopted a resolution authorizing the appointment of district directors for special districts with insufficient nominees to go to election on November 8, 2022, (Resolution No. 22-0410).
Fiscal Summary
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FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
N/A
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A