Seal Beach Council Election Update
The Seal Beach City Council formally called the 2022 election at its June 13 council meeting, paving the way for a nomination period that begins Monday, July 18, and ends Friday, Aug. 12.
Incumbent District 5 Council Member Sandra Massa-Lavitt will be termed out this year after serving two four-year terms. District 5 covers all of LW west of St. Andrews Drive. That includes Mutuals 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 and part of Mutual 1.
Also up for election are representatives for District 1, covering Old Town and Surfside Colony; and District 3, covering Marina Hill, Coves, Bridgeport and Heron Pointe.
Candidates should file nomination papers between July 18, and Aug. 12 at 5 p.m. (by appointment only) in the Office of the City Clerk of Seal Beach at City Hall, 211 Eighth St., Seal Beach.
For a complete explanation of forms needed, visit https://www. sealbeachca.gov/Departments/City-Clerk/Information-for-Council-Candidates.
People who have questions about being a candidate can make an appointment with Acting City Clerk Dana Engstrom at the City Clerk’s Office. (The city is dealing with a COVID outbreak and is encouraging the public to conduct business by phone or email when possible.)
The election will be consolidated with the state general election, which will be held on Nov. 8.
In Seal Beach, a candidate for a council seat needs to receive 50% of the vote, plus one, to take office.
If none of the candidates can reach 50% of the vote plus one, a run-off election will be held Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.
To be eligible, a candidate must be a citizen of the United States, a registered voter, a resident of the City of Seal Beach and council district and 18 years of age or older.
A person is not eligible to hold a position as city council member unless he or she is a registered voter of the city at the time the nomination papers were issued to the candidate.
The city council is the community’s legislative body and provides direction on business matters, sets policy, and adopts the annual budget, according to the Seal Beach website.
Because the city council is the legislative body, its members are the community’s decision makers. The city manager serves at the pleasure of the council as its full-time executive whose job is to administer city staff, projects, policies and programs on behalf of the city council.
The city council meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Unless otherwise announced, the meetings are held in the city council Chambers, 211 Eighth St., and typically begin at 5 p.m. with a study session or closed session meeting.
The televised portion of the meeting starts at 7 p.m. and can be viewed on cable television on SBTV-Channel 3 or on the city’s website through the Agenda, Notices & Meeting Videos option through the Government menu option.
