San Clemente Ca Elections

In a city known for its former recall drives and intense campaigns involving up to 36 candidates, probably the most notable thing so far about the current campaign for two open City Council seats is an unusual sense of calm.

Voters across Orange County delivered split results in three fiercely fought land-use battles, including passing a Newport Beach measure that allows residents to directly decide the fate of many major developments. But slow-growth initiatives in Brea and San Clemente were defeated by slim margins Tuesday, with pollsters noting that both measures were sure wins until the opposition was suddenly injected with landowner cash for stepped-up "voter education campaigns."

City Council incumbents Candace Haggard and Scott Diehl have had the most success in raising campaign funds so far in what is turning out to be one of the city's quietest council races. According to campaign documents filed Monday by all seven council candidates, only Haggard, Diehl and challenger Mark Blencowe have managed to raise more than $1,000 for the Nov. 3 election. The remaining four candidates--Jay Durkin, David T.

The City Council today will consider approving a calendar to hold municipal elections concurrently with the Nov. 7 general elections. The terms of council members Jim Dahl and Lois Berg, Treasurer Paul Gudgeirsson and Clerk Myrna Elway expire this year. City staff has proposed a plan to provide for a candidate filing period from July 17 to Aug. 11, with an additional five-day extension if the incumbent for the position does not choose to run. The proposed calendar also sets Aug.

The city's voters will decide in a special election June 3 whether to raise their utility tax by 2.5% to offset the revenue loss that resulted from the passage of Proposition 218. The City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to put the issue on the June ballot. If it is approved, it would raise funds to make up part of a projected $2.8-million shortfall in the city's $21-million budget for fiscal 1997-98.

Making up one of the shortest ballots in City Hall history, only four residents will vie to fill two City Council seats in the November election. Incumbents Scott Diehl and Candace Haggard will be challenged by Lois Berg, 70, a retired nurse and member of the city's Golf Course Committee, and James Dahl, 53, a fire captain. Diehl, 46, a veterinarian, will be seeking his fourth term. Diehl served on the council from 1982 to 1986, when he was defeated in a reelection bid.

Voters will not have much of a choice when they cast their ballots in November's race for city treasurer and city clerk. Only one candidate is running for each seat. In the race for clerk, incumbent Myrna Erway is unopposed. And Paul Gudgeirsson is the sole candidate for treasurer. Having served as city finance director since 1992, Gudgeirsson was appointed acting treasurer last year after the elected treasurer, Ken Carr, retired. Thomas R.

Generation X wants a seat. So does a former school superintendent who can recall the early days of the Roaring Twenties. In all, seven candidates spanning seven decades in age are seeking three at-large seats on the San Clemente City Council on Nov. 8, an election described by local officials as crucial to the continuing growth of the county's southernmost city.

Former mayor Karoline Koester has joined the list of possible candidates for two City Council seats in the Nov. 3 election. "I'm not happy with the way the council is responding to the issues of the day," said Koester, who picked up her candidacy papers late Tuesday afternoon. "I feel there is too much of a rubber stamp (attitude) going on with the council."

A last-minute bid by Councilman Thomas Lorch on Wednesday to place eight weighty measures on the Nov. 3 ballot failed to win support from the rest of the council. Lorch had only reached the second issue on his list when fellow council members, citing the lateness of the hour, 11:30 p.m., voted against placing any of the measures on the ballot. The Wednesday night meeting was the last chance for a council member to place a measure on the ballot. "It's just too late," Mayor Joseph Anderson said.

The city's voters will decide in a special election June 3 whether to raise their utility tax by 2.5% to offset the revenue loss that resulted from the passage of Proposition 218. The City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to put the issue on the June ballot. If it is approved, it would raise funds to make up part of a projected $2.8-million shortfall in the city's $21-million budget for fiscal 1997-98.

Residents will see two candidates running for city treasurer after all. Investment consultant Thomas R. Jones, 50, was officially declared a write-in candidate for the seat last week, city officials said. He will run against Paul Gudgeirsson, who was appointed acting treasurer last year after the elected treasurer, Ken Carr, retired.

Considering past recall drives against City Council members and the recent approval of two controversial taxes, this year's council campaign has been surprisingly calm. Only four residents will vie for two City Council seats in the Nov. 5 election, making up one of the shortest ballots in city history. Incumbents Scott Diehl, 46, and Candace Haggard, 45, will be challenged by Lois R. Berg, a member of the city's Golf Committee, and Jim Dahl, 53, a fire captain.

Voters will not have much of a choice when they cast their ballots in November's race for city treasurer and city clerk. Only one candidate is running for each seat. In the race for clerk, incumbent Myrna Erway is unopposed. And Paul Gudgeirsson is the sole candidate for treasurer. Having served as city finance director since 1992, Gudgeirsson was appointed acting treasurer last year after the elected treasurer, Ken Carr, retired. Thomas R.

Making up one of the shortest ballots in City Hall history, only four residents will vie to fill two City Council seats in the November election. Incumbents Scott Diehl and Candace Haggard will be challenged by Lois Berg, 70, a retired nurse and member of the city's Golf Course Committee, and James Dahl, 53, a fire captain. Diehl, 46, a veterinarian, will be seeking his fourth term. Diehl served on the council from 1982 to 1986, when he was defeated in a reelection bid.

Hoping to ensure that San Clemente's investments are handled wisely, the City Council voted Wednesday to put a measure on the March ballot calling for the city treasurer to be appointed, rather than elected. "It's time to go back and ask the voters if they want a registered voter handling millions and millions of dollars--or do they want somebody who is qualified and sophisticated in investment knowledge handling our funds?" Councilman Scott Diehl said. "Times have changed."

Citing a lack of campaign funds, longtime resident Jay Durkin, a strong proponent of term limits and pay cuts for top-level City Hall managers, has announced that he is dropping out of the City Council race. "I just can't fight this huge, special-interest campaign," Durkin, 56, said Friday. "It's David and Goliath."

For the first time in the history of South County politics, City Council candidates vying for two open seats this November will have a chance to address Spanish-speaking residents in a bilingual forum on Sunday. Forum organizer Jim Miranda, a local realtor and community activist, said all of City Council candidates have agreed to participate on the panel and answer questions from residents about various issues, including the economy and neighborhood redevelopment programs.

Generation X wants a seat. So does a former school superintendent who can recall the early days of the Roaring Twenties. In all, seven candidates spanning seven decades in age are seeking three at-large seats on the San Clemente City Council on Nov. 8, an election described by local officials as crucial to the continuing growth of the county's southernmost city.

A group seeking to recall four City Council members failed to gather enough signatures by Friday's deadline to trigger a special election on the issue. The group had targeted Mayor Truman Benedict and council members Joseph Anderson, Scott Diehl and Candace Haggard for recall, largely because they had voted to abolish the city's 65-year-old Police Department and contract with the Orange County Sheriff's Department.