CARLSBAD: Council filing deadline approaches

By BARBARA HENRY - Staff Writer | Sunday, July 6, 2008 7:07 PM PDT ∞

CARLSBAD ---- People who want a shot at being a member of the Carlsbad City Council can file to run for election starting July 14.

Two council seats are on the ballot in November. One spot is held by Ann Kulchin, who is in her seventh four-year term on the council. She plans to run again. The other is held by Julie Nygaard, who was appointed to the job in 2006.

Nygaard, a former three-term councilwoman, declared that she wouldn't run when she was appointed in 2006 to fill out the term of resigning councilwoman Norine Sigafoose. She reiterated that position Wednesday.

"I am not running for re-election in November. I am not," Nygaard said.

Though she isn't running, other folks definitely are. Three political newcomers announced months ago that they would run. They formed their campaign committees months before the city typically sees campaign activity.

"Some of these folks started last winter," City Clerk Lorraine Wood said Wednesday.

They are:

-- Thomas K. Arnold, 49, a local journalist who is the editor/publisher of Home Media Magazine and a home entertainment writer for the Hollywood Reporter. He has said he want to run for Kulchin's seat.

-- Keith Blackburn, 48, a Carlsbad Police sergeant who has worked for the city for two decades.

-- Farrah Douglas, 58, a recent appointee to the city's Planning Commission who co-owns a local print shop.

Both Blackburn and Douglas have said they're running for Nygaard's seat.

Qualifications to serve on the council are simple. People need to be city residents. They must be at least 18 years old and be registered to vote.

Hopefuls have until at least Aug. 8 to file candidacy paperwork. However, that deadline is expected to be extended to Aug. 13 because Nygaard isn't expected to file, Wood said. Under election law, when an incumbent doesn't file, the deadline is extended several days.

The cost to file is $25, though that fee can be waived if people collect enough signatures from registered voters on their petition.

Successful candidates will receive a base salary of $1,329 a month as council members. They'll also collect $300 every time they serve as members of the city's Housing and Redevelopment Commission, and $100 every time they act as Carlsbad Municipal Water District Board members.

They also collect an automobile allowance of $350 a month.

For application information, contact the City Clerk's office at (760) 434-2808.

Contact staff writer Barbara Henry at (760) 901-4072 or bhenry@nctimes.com. Comment at nctimes.com.