While voting is already underway, voters waiting for the traditional trip to the ballot box will have that chance Nov. 5 next week as the 2024 General Election has arrived.
While early in-person and mail voting is underway, preparations for election day are already moving swiftly, according to the office of the Orange County Registrar of Voters.
According to ocvote.gov website, several drop boxes are already in place for voters to drop off their ballots, including;
- La Palma City Hall
- Los Alamitos Community Center
- Cypress Community Center
- Cypress Veterans Park
- In addition to the candidates running for public office, the cities of Los Alamitos, Cypress, and La Palma have put items on this fall’s ballot that would significantly affect how these cities are operated and governed.
- Los Alamitos – Measure X would redefine term limits that regulate city council member terms that would restart the clock for current members, would enshrine in the charter new powers of the purse for the city manager and other changes the city claims are necessary to update its charter. City Council members are currently allowed three four-year terms, but the measure allows incumbents to restart the clock, giving some potentially as long as twenty-four years in office.
- Cypress – Measure S would authorize an additional 676 housing units to be developed on available property at the Los Alamitos Racecourse on Katella Ave. Because of the zoning status of the property, only residents of the city can authorize new construction. Actions associated to Housing Element Implementation.
- La Palma – Measure W would extend term limits of its members from the current two terms to three and further, would allow incumbents to restart the clock, giving some as much as twenty years in office.
- Regarding candidates, the ENE has reviewed the candidates’ filing statements and here is a list of the offices and candidates from our readership area:
Cypress Elementary School District, Trustee Area A
Carrie Hayashida, Incumbent (appointed to fill a vacancy)
Steve Shanahan, Business owner
Cypress Elementary School District, Trustee Area E
Candi Kern, Incumbent
Jaime Needham, Teacher
Los Alamitos Unified School District, Trustee Area 2
Chris Forehan, no opposition
Los Alamitos Unified School District, Trustee Area 4
Farnaz Pardasani, Nonprofit board member
L. Bobby Papoulias, Professor, Entrepreneur
Los Alamitos Unified School District, Trustee Area 5
Perla Mendoza, Community Volunteer
Matt Bragman, School Administrator
Rossmoor Community Services District
(Three to be elected)
Tony Demarco, Incumbent
Nathan Searles, Incumbent
Mary Ann Remnet, Community Volunteer
Konya Vivanti, Environmental engineer
Orange County Supervisor, District 1
Frances Marquez, Cypress Council member
Janet Nguyen, State Senator
Los Alamitos City Council, District 1
Jordan Nefulda, Incumbent, no opposition
Los Alamitos City Council, District 2
Trisha Murphy, Incumbent
Gary Loe, International Banker
Los Alamitos City Council, District 3
Tanya Doby, Incumbent
Wendy Grose, Doctor/Nurse Practitioner
La Palma City Council, District 1
Debbie S. Baker, Incumbent, no opposition
La Palma City Council, District 2
Vikesh Patel, no opponent
La Palma City Council, District 3
Mark Walkman, Incumbent, no opposition
Cypress City Council, District 3
No incumbent
Mark H. Plager, Business owner
Kyle Chang, Public Health Statistician
Gayel Kaplan, Attorney
Cypress City Council, District 4
No incumbent
Leo Medrano, Businessman, Engineer
Blaze Bhence, Business owner. Consultant
Glen Button, Businessman, Engineer
California State Assembly, District 70
Tri Ta, Incumbent
Jimmy D. Pham, Attorney
California State Assembly, District 72
Diane Dixon, incumbent
Dom Jones, Nonprofit executive
U.S. House of Representatives, District 47
Dave Min, State Senator
Scott Baugh, Businessman
U.S. House of Representatives, District 45
Michelle Steel, Incumbent
Derek Tran, Workers Rights Advocate
U.S. Senator (Partial and Full Term)
Steve Garvey, Professional baseball representative
Adam B. Schiff, U.S. Representative