Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Santa Clarita Opts for Own Election : Voting: Not balloting with presidential primary may cost $175,000, but officials chose not to add 11 months to their terms.

This city’s 1996 election will be held within two weeks of the presidential primary, costing Santa Clarita up to $175,000 in added election expenses.

Other municipalities statewide have delayed their local election dates in the wake of a decision by state legislators to move the primary to March 26, 1996, which is expected to give California more clout in choosing presidential candidates. Indeed, more than 40 city councils in Los Angeles County have moved their balloting, normally held in April, to March, 1997.

But this means that officeholders in those cities will automatically get an 11-month term extension, and Santa Clarita officials didn’t want to authorize that.

“I don’t know the public will accept that,” said Mayor Jo Anne Darcy at a City Council meeting Tuesday night, “even though it’s not our fault.”

“We weren’t elected to serve five years,” said Councilman George Pederson.

Conversely, the City Council was not willing to hold local elections at the same time as school board elections, which would have shortened local terms by five months.

In the end, the City Council voted 5 to 0 to stay with the April, 1996, election date.

Keeping the election date means the city might have to purchase its own voting equipment, said City Clerk Donna Grindey. The county equipment, which is normally used by the city, would not be available for use so soon after the primary.

Election organizers also said that holding the two elections close together runs the risk of voter confusion and a shortage of volunteer workers.

There is still a possibility that the local election could be delayed without local officials being responsible for the decision. Assemblyman William J. (Pete) Knight (R-Palmdale) has drafted a bill that would give California cities the authority to hold June elections during even-numbered years.

This measure, if passed, would save local politicians from the possibly unpopular move of extending office terms on their own.

Knight said he is not sure when his legislation will be introduced into the Assembly, but he is hopeful it will be approved.

“I don’t know of any opposition (to the legislation) right now,” Knight said.

Regardless of when Santa Clarita’s election is ultimately held, council members made it clear Tuesday they’re unhappy about having to consider a change at all.

“I think it was very ill-advised for the state to run willy-nilly all over local jurisdictions, just for political reasons,” said Councilman Carl Boyer.

“All of us have to scramble to change our lifestyle just so they can see if something works,” said Councilwoman Jan Heidt.