Half of the seats on the Castaic Area Town Council are up for election this November, the council announced Friday.
The election to determine the leadership of the five Castaic regions will be held Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Castaic Library. Potential candidates have until Oct. 17 to submit a letter of interest and qualifications, a contact phone number, email and a $50 application fee that can be submitted to [email protected] or mailed.
Qualifications are that a candidate must be at least 18 years old, a Castaic resident for a minimum of a year and a registered voter within the boundaries of the Castaic region. Each candidate can only be elected and serve in the region in which they reside.
President Jessica Chambers confirmed that terms are up for Vice President Bonnie Nikolai and Councilman Lloyd Carder, and both have decided to not seek re-election.
The remaining open seats are that of Councilman Hal Neff, Councilman Bob Lewis and Chambers. Chambers said she will be running. She said Lewis, appointed to fill the remainder of former Councilman Jim Idleman’s term, has not confirmed whether he will run again.
Neff has not formally announced whether he will seek re-election, but is no longer eligible as he has moved out of the Castaic area, Chambers said.
The council has elections every two years, with each term lasting four years. Thus half of the council is up for re-election at a time, while the other half finishes out their term.
Once candidates are elected in November, they take office in January, Chambers said.
“I’m running again because I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with the council to make the community better,” she said. “And I look forward to continuing that work.”
Nikolai said she is stepping down as vice president because she will be expecting her fourth child in April and wants to devote time to motherhood.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed serving my community,” she said. “Being on the council is a profound learning experience. I have gained a lot of knowledge and friends along the way. And I know the next person taking my seat will do a good job, because I don’t believe somebody who does not love this community would be on this council. It’s a labor of love, and I’ve been honored to do it.”
