Write-in Candidate Qualifies For District 4, Time Left to Jump into Other Elk Grove Races

October 18, 2014 |

Earlier this week, an Elk Grove resident submitted the necessary paperwork to be a qualified write-in candidate for the District 4 seat of the Elk Grove City Council race. That candidate, Charles Shanks, joins Nancy Chaires, Daniel Jimenez, Steve Ly and Nayyar Sarfaraz in the race to fill the seat that was at one time occupied by Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis.

According to information from Elk Grove City Clerk Jason Lindgren, there is still time, albeit quickly diminishing, for interested citizens to qualify as a write-in candidate for District 4 and the District 2 and mayoral race. District 2 Elk Grove City Council Member Pat Hume and Mayor Gary Davis are appearing on the ballot unopposed.

According to Lindgren the requirement to qualify as a write-in are as follows:

"The process is very similar to what candidates did back in July/August, with the exception that as a write-in candidate will not appear on the ballot, they would not have a ballot designation to submit, also, since the publishing deadlines are done, they would not have a candidate statement either.

There is a filing fee of $25.00.  Interested parties would see me, and I would issue the Nomination Petition, and requisite paperwork.  An interested write-in candidate would have to qualify to hold the office sought (i.e. be a registered voter either in the City to run for mayor, or the applicable district for Council Member seats in Districts 2 and 4).  I can only issue the nomination paper documents to the candidate, or their proxy if that proxy has a signed statement from the individual wanting to be a write-in candidate.

The nomination paper requires the signature of 20 registered Elk Grove voters.  There are FPPC filings that would also have be filed, and a few other odds and ends to file as well (media sheet, subscription to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices, and some County documents). 

The deadline to file is by end of day Tuesday, October 21, 2014 (write-in candidates take an oath to me when they submit their paperwork).  As noted above, they have to first pick up a valid nomination paper that I would issue."

The various forms are available from the California Fair Political Practices Commission.