LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The cities of Clearlake and Lakeport reported that the candidate filing periods are about to open for the municipal elections on Nov. 4.

The clerks for the two cities said their candidate filing periods – for posts including city council seats – open at 8 a.m. Monday, July 14.

The filing periods close at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, unless one or more of the incumbents doesn't file to run for reelection, in which case the filing period will be extended until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, for non-incumbents, city officials said.

In Clearlake, City Clerk Melissa Swanson said two city council seats, as well as the city treasurer and city clerk seats, are up for election. All have four-year terms.

The council seats are those currently held by Joey Luiz and Jeri Spittler. Spittler is headed to a fall runoff for the District 2 supervisorial seat against incumbent Jeff Smith, so it's unlikely she will run for reelection to the council.

In Lakeport, two four-year council seats are up for election in November, according to Lakeport City Clerk Janel Chapman.

The Lakeport seats to go on the ballot currently are held by Tom Engstrom and Stacey Mattina. Engstrom announced in February that he will not seek a second term.

Candidates must be registered to vote and reside within the limits of the city where they want to run, the clerks reported.

If no one or only one person is nominated for each elective office, appointment to the elective office may be made as prescribed by Section 10229 of the State Elections Code, Swanson said.

Each candidate must be nominated by not less than 20 nor more than 30 registered voters, Chapman said.

Chapman recommended that prospective candidates pick up nomination papers well in advance of the deadline for filing to allow time to gather signatures.  

For Clearlake, candidate packets will be available in the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

Swanson encouraged candidates to call her office at 707-994-8201, Extension 106, or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule an appointment, as the packet disbursal process will take approximately one hour.

For Lakeport candidates, Chapman asked that they contact her at 707-263-5615, Extension 12, for further information and to set up an appointment to pick up and go over the nomination packet.  

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.