Application Deadline Extended to Midnight to Run for Neighborhood Council

UPDATE: Applications to run will be accepted through midnight Thursday, Aug. 9.

The filing deadline to run for a seat on the neighborhood councils in the Northwest Valley is 5 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 9.

A roll-out of elections throughout the city began Saturday with Region 1 balloting in the Northeast Valley.

Elections in Region 2 Northwest Valley communities of Porter Ranch, Northridge West, Northridge East and Northridge South will be Sept. 8. The next city-sanctioned Chatsworth Neighborhood Council election will be in 2014.

Other Region 2 elections will be held by Granada Hills North, Granada Hills South, North Hills West and North Hills East neighborhood councils. Aug. 9 is also the candidate filing deadline.

Glenn Bailey, who was serving as the independent elections administrator for Saturday's election, told Patch "five of the seven [neighborhood councils] had more stakeholders participate than in 2010 and two set new all-time high voting records."

Jose Sandoval is the independent elections administrator for Region 2.

So how do you file as a candidate?

You can file online at http://www.emailmeform.com/

1. Fill out your contact information.
2. Select the Neighborhood Council you wish to run for in the drop-down box.
3. Type in the name of the seat that you want. Click the respective link below to see a list of all positions on the board that are up for election.
   • Northridge West Neighborhood Council: Northridge West NC has SIX Board Member seats available. Two Resident At-Large seats, one Open At-Large seat, two Senior Representatives, and one Homeowner representative.
   • Northridge East Neighborhood Council: Northridge East NC will elect 15 directors to represent Homeowners, Renters, Business Owners, Commercial Property Owners, Youth, and CSUN Employees and Students.
   • Northridge South Neighborhood Council: Northridge South NC will elect 15 stakeholders to represent Residents, Businesses, Organizations, Seniors (65 years or older), Youth, (16-25 years old) and At-Large.
   • Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council: Porter Ranch NC has SIX Board Member seats available.  Five seats are for an At-Large Representative, and one seat is for a Youth Representative (16-18 years old). There will be a candidate forum at the  regular meeting, 6 p.m., on Aug. 14, at Shepherd of the Hills Church, 19700 Rinaldi St.
4. Check the “I DECLARE…” box.
5. Enter the current date.
6. Enter the letters and numbers in the Image Verification box.
7. Click “File Your Candidate Statement Form”.

The Independent Election Administrator, Jose Sandoval (jose@empowerla.org), will call or write to you about any missing information or documentation that he needs to VERIFY you as a candidate.

You are a “stakeholder” of a Neighborhood Council if you live, work, or own property within that Neighborhood Council’s boundaries (MAP).  You can also define your own “stake” and run for a seat on the board.

You can also file for election by downloading the pdf form HERE and

Mail to:
Department of Neighborhood Empowerment – Elections Division
14410 Sylvan Street, 4th FL
Van Nuys, CA 91401

OR

Email to:
elections@empowerla.org

OR

Fax to: (818) 582-2849

-- EmpowerLA and NorthValleyElections.org contributed to this report.

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