MISSION VIEJO : Filing Period Nears for Wide-Open Race

With three council seats available and two incumbents spurning another four-year term, the filing period for a suddenly wide-open City Council election opens Monday.

Nomination papers can be submitted to the city clerk’s office from that day through Aug. 12 at 5 p.m. The deadline will be extended to Aug. 17 if any of three incumbent council members decides not to run for reelection, as appears likely.

Incumbent council members whose terms expire this year are Robert D. Breton, Sharon Cody and Mayor Susan Withrow. The city election will be Nov. 8.

Cody and Breton have already announced their intention not to seek reelection--in Cody’s case, the announcement came almost two years ago. Both former mayors have said the time required to be an effective council member has taken too much time away from family and career.

Withrow, a political newcomer four years ago who spent more than $30,000 of her own money to win election, has expressed a desire to run again.

The nomination papers must be signed by a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 30 registered voters living in Mission Viejo.

Candidates are also required to submit a disclosure statement listing all investments and financial involvement in real estate. There is no charge for filing nomination papers. However, there is a $950 charge for turning in an optional candidate’s statement.

Candidates also must be registered voters living in Mission Viejo. All nomination forms are available at the city clerk’s office in City Hall, 26522 La Alameda. For more election information, call (714) 582-2489.