It has been 18 years and 84 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.

March 9, 2016 I picked up a nominating petition packet and established a political

Joyce and City Clerk Pam Hanna in her office

Joyce and City Clerk Pam Hanna in her office

committee called “Clark for Council.” Let me tell you how things work at city hall.  Whether you go to the clerk’s office or file online for an Information Request about a council member or something about the city, the minute you leave the office or file online councilmembers and/or staff members are immediately notified. I left the clerk’s office knowing that council and senior staff was notified that I had formed a political committee and pulled a packet. It’s not the city clerk’s fault. It’s policy that was created many, many years ago.

Visiting any office on city hall’s fourth floor (location of City Clerk’s office, the City Attorney’s office, the Mayor’s office, the City Manager’s office and the Council offices) requires passage through security these days. When you arrive on the fourth floor the security officer calls the department you are seeking to visit. Someone from that department comes to you and escorts you through secured double doors to his or her office. When you leave you are again escorted out through those secured double doors to the fourth floor elevators.

The City Clerk has prepared packets of information for anyone wishing to become a candidate. In it is a large map of the city; a pamphlet on Glendale’s campaign sign regulations; City of

Information provided to every candidate

Information provided to every candidate

Glendale signature requirements (in the Yucca district the minimum number of signatures required is 464 and the maximum is 927); two City Clerk welcome letters; City of Glendale Election Calendar, a CD that includes the County Elections Department manual for candidates; and a blank Political Committee Statement of Organization.

I filled out the Statement of Organization as the City Clerk and Assistant City Clerk offered immediate, relevant information. Both women were helpful and courteous. They did an excellent job of relaying immediate information that a candidate should know. Half an hour later I was done.

Nominating Petition

Nominating Petition

Today, March 10, 2016 I will visit my local bank and establish a campaign bank account and get copies made of the nominating petitions. The City Clerk’s office can make copies for 20 cents a page. Going to a local copy store can get the same job done at a much lower price.

Before and after my excursion I answered more phone calls and emails and got pledges for my first three campaign contributions. It appears I am not the only one excited about running – so are a lot of other people, in and out of my district. I even received an unsolicited campaign pledge from a friend in California who reads this blog faithfully. Lesson learned. You don’t have to live in the Yucca district or even in Glendale for that matter, to contribute to my campaign. I hope readers who don’t live here but have followed me faithfully for the past three years will consider making a campaign donation as well.

The campaign mechanics have begun.  It is exciting and somewhat busy. It promises to become very busy shortly when we begin walking for nominating petition signatures. Thanks for following me on this journey. Together I will be reminded and you will learn just what goes into running a local campaign.

© Joyce Clark, 2016

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