UPDATES FROM REGION 14

DAVID CARNAHAN, MPA, CMC, CITY OF SUNNYVALE CITY CLERK,

REGION 14 REPRESENTATIVE

City Clerk Handbook Update

Region 14 is busy drafting a new chapter on Boards, Commissions and Committees for the City Clerk Handbook. The following members from across the Peninsula region, covering San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties are contributing and reviewing content for this new chapter:

Name Agency

Angel Rodriguez Town of Los Altos

Crystal Mui City of San Carlos

David Carnahan City of Sunnyvale

Deborah Padovan Town of Los Altos Hills

Dora Seamans SamTrans

Elaine Baltao Valley Transportation Authority

Jenna De Long Town of Los Gatos

Joy Rodriguez City of San José

Jozi Plut City of Belmont

Lesley Milton City of Palo Alto

Lisa Natusch Town of Hillsborough

Mahealani Ah Yun City of Palo Alto

Martin McTaggart City of San Mateo

Merry Monlux City of Mountain View

Miyko Harris-Parker San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority

Pam Caronongan City of Rio Vista

Pamela Aguilar City of Redwood City

Patrice Olds City of San Mateo

Thai Nam Pham City of Gilroy

Toni Taber City of San José

Wendy Wood Town of Los Gatos

Upcoming Trainings

San José City Clerk Toni Taber, CMC is planning to host an FPPC Campaign Filing Workshop in the April timeframe, with a likely post-workshop lunch gathering in the delicious Downtown San José area. Hollister City Clerk Jennifer Woodworth, MMC, CPMC and Saratoga City Clerk Britt Avrit, MMC are planning a leadership training coupled with an Athenian Dialog in the late April/early May timeframe that will take place in Sunnyvale. Keep your “eye peeled like an orange” for the dates and registration information for these trainings.

“Peeling your eyes?”

Observing my children learn about the world and attempt to understand idioms is a lot more fun than planning an election or attending an all-day Council workshop. One of my favorite moments with my son is him trying to understand the phrase “keep your eyes peeled.” He wanted to know how he would peel his eyes; would he peel them like an orange? This picture shows my family happily enjoying a destination wedding in Munta de Mita, Mexico.

Manager’s Office, I attained an MPA from San Francisco State University and interned with the Menlo Park City Manager. The background of public administration and recruiting volunteers helped me land the role of Deputy City Clerk in Palo Alto managing the Board and Commission program. The experience in Palo Alto prepared me for success in the Sunnyvale City Clerk role.

What is your favorite place to eat?

The San Francisco Bay Area is home to many tasty restaurants serving every type of cuisine; choosing one place is too difficult. I can highly, highly recommend Kirk’s Steakburgers in Palo Alto for fantastic burgers, shakes and onion strings. For my favorite meal, breakfast, Bill of Fare in Saratoga cannot be topped for traditional diner breakfast food. What’s your favorite candy?

Another difficult question, here is my top four candies in no particular order: Butterfinger, Mounds, Kit Kat, Reese’s.

If you could be a superhero, which one would you be?

Without question, Batman. He has all the cool gadgets and his lack of a superpower makes him seem more realistic (how many Council meetings does one need to clerk to become a billionaire?).

I heard Sunnyvale had a tied election; can you tell me about that?

During the Nov. 8, 2022 Election, the two candidates for Council District 3 (both members of the City’s Sustainability Commission) led strong campaigns. The day before election certification, the candidates were tied. After three disqualified ballots were cured by voters, the “final” certified results showed a candidate winning the seat by one vote!

My daughter does not really understand the clerk profession and tells people I am a Councilmember!

Briefly tell me about how you got to be in your current role.

My path to the clerk world began in high school, working at the Menlo Park Library shelving books and later serving as the volunteer coordinator. Thinking about a career heading towards the City

The other candidate requested a recount and challenged the rejection of numerous uncounted ballots. This recount led to counting an additional three ballots and a tied election! It goes without saying that Elections Code Section 15651 on resolving tied elections quickly went from a portion of the Code I hoped never to need to my favorite bedtime reading. A Jan. 3, 2023 Tiebreaker selected the Councilmember for District 3, who was sworn-in during the Council meeting the same night. For those interested in learning more, visit Sunnyvale Elections or watch the Tiebreaker.

BALLOT MEASURE 23-A

CCAC SPECIAL ELECTION

CCAC is conducting a special election to consider a ballot measure amending the organization’s Bylaws. The deadline to submit arguments for or against the Measure is February 24, 2023.

• Ballot Title and Ballot Summary

• Proposed Bylaw Amendments

The electronic ballot will be emailed to all eligible voting members no later than March 6, 2023, and the deadline to complete and submit the ballot is March 20, 2023.