6 Take Out Papers in Santa Clarita for 3 City Council Seats

Six people, including a police officer, a politician’s aide and a newspaper photographer, were the first to take out nomination papers Monday to run for three City Council seats that are up for grabs in the April 12 election.

The would-be candidates, if they qualify, will seek seats held by council members Carl Boyer, Jo Anne Darcy and Jill Klajic. Darcy and Klajic have expressed interest in seeking new four-year terms, while Boyer is scheduled to announce Wednesday if he will be a candidate again.

Monday was the first day for potential candidates to obtain nomination papers. They are due back at the city clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on Jan. 14.

To qualify for the ballot, candidates must obtain at least 20 signatures of registered voters who live in the city. The city does not charge a filing fee, but candidates have the option of paying $850 to have a 200-word campaign statement printed in the city voter’s manual, said City Clerk Donna Grindey.

If candidates want their statement printed in a language other than English, there is an additional $110 fee, she said.

Those who took out papers Monday were:

* Dennis Farnham, a Los Angeles police officer who owns three Santa Clarita businesses: The Cop Shop, Farnham Security and Santa Clarita Valley Medical Uniforms.

Farnham, 49, said he believes fighting crime and attracting businesses to the city are important issues and said he will retire from the LAPD to serve on the council, if elected.

“I have a big concern with the increase of crime (in Santa Clarita),” said Farnham. “We need to start focusing our views on ways to fight it.”

* Fred Heiser, a Lockheed engineer who ran unsuccessfully against state Sen. Don Rogers (R-Tehachapi) in 1992. Heiser, 37, is a Canyon Country resident and has previously said he favors shifting government duties to private businesses.

* Clyde Smyth, who served as superintendent of the William S. Hart Union High School District in Santa Clarita from 1975 to 1992.

Smyth, 62, said he thinks the major issues facing Santa Clarita include safety, graffiti, business growth, transportation and the proposed landfill in Elsmere Canyon.

“I want it clearly understood, I’m not running against anybody,” said Smythe. “The election, any election, need not be an unpleasant experience for people. It can be done in a positive matter.”

* Rosalind Wayman, a deputy for Los Angeles City Councilman Marvin Braude. Wayman, 43, said she believes that Santa Clarita is facing economic, job and educational challenges like other California cities and favors cooperation to solve problems.

“One of the strongest words you’ll hear in my campaign is partnership,” Wayman said.

* Larry Bird, a resident of Newhall.

* John Demos, a photographer for the Signal newspaper.

Bird and Demos could not be reached for comment.

Santa Clarita has had large fields of council candidates since it became a city in 1987. In 1992, 16 residents ran for two open seats, and a similar number is expected before the filing period closes in January.

Gail Foy, the city’s public information officer, said residents are often interested in serving on the council because Santa Clarita does not have the serious financial or other long-standing problems facing older municipalities.

“There is still a tremendous interest in a new, local government,” said Foy. “The city is still in its infancy. That’s a challenge that’s hard to resist.”

Another likely candidate is former city parks commissioner Linda Storli. She has set up a campaign finance account but has not yet taken out nomination papers, Grindey said.