Local Candidates Filing Now
Jul 26, 2024 09:59AM ● By Debra Dingman
DIXON, CA (MPG) - Dixon’s municipal elections have officially started.
The morning of July 15 District 3 Council Representative Kevin Johnson met with Dixon’s Administrative City Clerk Lupe Ruiz to pull nomination papers for his re-election.
Johnson, who is a Remax Gold Realtor and is a past Dixon Citizen of the Year, had no reservations for seeking a second term.
“I love what I do. I wake up every morning and still love Dixon. I think we have a great council. And I have no higher aspirations,” Johnson said.
On July 16, 30-year Dixon resident and retired California Highway Patrol Officer Jim Ward, who as Dixon’s current city treasurer has rarely missed a City Council meeting during his term, pulled papers to run for mayor
“After thinking long and hard, I cannot sit by and not run for the seat of mayor because of two words: ethics matter. That sums it up,” Ward said.
On July 17, Mayor Steve Bird pulled for re-election, and on July 18, District 4 Council Rep Don Hendershot also pulled for re-election. Both Bird and Hendershot are in law enforcement and both Johnson and Hendershot served on the Planning Commission prior to serving on City Council.
To see the district boundaries, go to the city’s website at www.cityofdixon.us and look under the Government tab and click on Elections.
The four open seats are city mayor, city treasurer, District 3 council representative and District 4 council representative. The mayor’s position as well as the city treasurer’s position will be voted on by all local registered voters regardless of where they live; however, the Distict 3 and District 4 representatives will be elected only by that district’s registered voters.
If one is interested in civic duty, the nomination period for these offices will close at 5 p.m. Aug. 9. Eligible candidates must be 18 years old or older, reside and be registered to vote within the City of Dixon. Candidates running for City Council representatives must also reside within the district for which they are running.
The candidates are required to have 20 “qualified” signatures of friends, family and supporters on the “Affidavit of nominee and oath or affirmation of allegiance” form and are encouraged to get 30 signatures because those individuals must be registered voters and their information has to match the voter role.
Signatures are often kicked out because, for example, a woman marries and signs her married name but did not change her voter registration. Also, when individuals change their registration through the Department of Motor Vehicles, that process only changes their mailing address, not their voter registration address.
The voter registration deadline is 15 days before an election. You can register to vote online at the California Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.ca.gov. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
In addition to campaign expenses that could include signs, advertisements and other promotional expenses, just pulling papers carries a price tag. The candidate’s filing fee, orientation fee and binder fee total $167. If the candidate chooses to be listed in the Voter Information Guide issued to all registered voters in Solano County by the County Registrar of Voters, the cost can be in the hundreds, depending on how many translations are chosen.
Additional information can be obtained at Dixon City Hall, 600 East A St., Dixon, from the City Clerk’s Office or by phone at 707-678-7000. One can also contact the Solano County Voter Registrar’s Office at 707-784-6675 or go online to SolanoCounty.com.
Here is a city map of the four districts in Dixon. City of Dixon graphic
