The filing period for local residents interested in running in the City of Santa Clarita’s 2012 City Council election will open Monday, Dec. 19, and continue through Friday, Jan.  13.  The 2012 City Council election will be held on Tuesday, April 10.

The 2012 election will fill two seats on the Santa Clarita City Council for four-year terms, presently occupied by incumbents Laurie Ender and Bob Kellar. All elected council members will be sworn into office on Tuesday, April 24.

Prospective City Council candidates must secure the signatures of 20 to 30 registered City voters prior to filing nomination paperwork.  If any incumbent council member chooses not to file nomination papers by 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13, the filing period for non-incumbent potential candidates will be extended to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

Each candidate is required to file a Statement of Economic Interests disclosing investments and interests in real property at the time the nomination paper is returned for filing.  There is no charge for filing nomination papers.

Nomination papers and candidate handbooks will be available beginning Dec. 19 in the City Clerk’s Office, at City Hall, Suite 304, located at 23920 Valencia Blvd.  The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except during holidays.  Prospective candidates should call 661-255-4391 to make an appointment to review the materials required of the application process and to pick up the Candidate Handbook and Nomination Form.

Any city resident wishing to lend their signature to a potential candidate’s nomination paperwork must be a registered voter 18 years of age or older at the time nomination papers are issued, reside in the city of Santa Clarita, and be a citizen of the United States.  Each eligible voter may nominate up to two prospective candidates.

For a fee, candidates may also prepare a statement to be included in the sample ballot materials and mailed to voters, which requires the candidate’s name, occupation, and brief description of no more than 200 words stating his or her education and qualifications.  The fee is $1,750 for printing the candidate statement, including English and Spanish translations, and is payable when nomination papers are filed.

Prospective candidates should call the City Clerk’s Office at 661-255-4391 to schedule an appointment for the approximate 45-minute process to take out or to return materials for candidacy.

For more information on the 2012 Santa Clarita City Council Election, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 661-255-4391 or visit votesantaclarita.com.