Sentinel staff report–
Less than a week after the filing period opened, six residents have already pulled papers to run for three seats up for election on the Citrus Heights City Council this year.
As of mid-day Thursday, the city clerk’s office said all three council members whose seats are up for election had already pulled papers — and three other residents have also done so. More may also pull papers to run, as the filing period is open until Aug. 10.
Document: See the 2018 City Council Candidate Packet
The six who have taken the first step towards running for city council this year include Mayor Steve Miller, Vice Mayor Jeannie Bruins, and Councilman Al Fox, who was appointed last year to fill the vacancy left by the late Councilman Mel Turner. Planning Commissioner Porsche Middleton has also pulled papers, as well as residents David Huber and William Crofton.
Both Miller and Bruins have handily won election and re-election to the council at least three times before, but as a newly appointed member, Fox will likely face a more uphill battle to hold onto his seat. The top three vote-getters on Nov. 6 will each earn four-year terms on the five-member city council.
Middleton previously ran for council in 2016 and placed last of the eight candidates running, earning just over 2% of the vote, but she appears to be making a comeback since her last bid and could be among the top contenders this year. The 34-year-old moved to Citrus Heights four years ago and has served for the past year-and-a-half on the city’s planning commission and has also racked up a lengthy list of endorsements from organizations and officials in the region, including from Assemblyman Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) and the Wellstone Progressive Democrats of Sacramento.
Little is currently known about the other two candidates, other than David Huber, who also pulled papers to run in 2016. He ended up not filing the papers that year and did not appear on the ballot.
Of the candidates who ran in 2016, at least three have stated they will not be running again. Tim Schaefer, who placed fifth, is now seeking a spot on the San Juan Unified School District board, and Rick Doyle and Michael Nishimura both told The Sentinel they will not be running again this year.
Related: How much do Citrus Heights council members actually get paid?
After pulling papers, those seeking to qualify for the ballot still have to collect a minimum of 20 valid signatures from registered voters and pay a $25 fee upon filing the signatures with the city clerk’s office. The clerk also checks to ensure candidates are at least 18 years old, are U.S. citizens registered to vote, and are residents of Citrus Heights.
While the $25 fee is the only cost required to run, candidates can also opt to pay $650 to include a 200-word candidate statement in the November election sample ballot, which is direct-mailed to each voter. As of July 3, the city clerk’s office reports there are 43,747 registered voters in the city.
Related: Bret Daniels’ election to city council called ‘a shocker’ by Citrus Heights leaders
In the past, winning candidates for city council have typically raised over $10,000 — although Bret Daniels’ election in 2016 was considered “a shocker” by many, including himself, when he pulled off an election win while raising just $3,100. He was outspent by two other candidates who lost, despite their raising more than three times as much as Daniels.
Winning candidates on Nov. 6 will be seated at the city council’s first meeting in December.
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Sentinel staff report--
Less than a week after the filing period opened, six residents have already pulled papers to run for three seats up for election on the Citrus Heights City Council this year...
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