Article updated at noon on July 30.
By Eric Heinz
Eleven candidates have expressed interest in running for San Clemente City Council this year, as of noon on Monday, July 30.
The candidates who pulled nomination papers to circulate are Dan Bane, Don Brown, Wayne Eggleston, Jackson Hinkle, Gene W. James, Tiffany Robson Leet, Brad Malamud, Jake Rybczyk, Ed Ward, incumbent City Councilmember Kathy Ward, and Bernie Wohlfarth.
So far, Malamud and Brown are the only two candidates who have filed their papers, meaning they’ve received the necessary amount of signatures.
There are three open seats this election, but current Councilmember Lori Donchak said she would not seek reelection, having served three terms, and it’s been doubtful that Mayor Tim Brown will seek reelection, having served two terms.
More candidates are expected to join as the nomination period continues. The deadline to file nomination papers with signatures is 5 p.m. on Aug. 10. Candidates must receive at least 20 signatures from residents of San Clemente nominating them for the position.
Additionally, the City Council voted at its July 24 meeting to add a ballot initiative that would increase the “hotel tax” (transient occupancy tax or TOT) from 10 percent to 12.5 percent of every hotel bill. This would bring in an estimated $570,000 to the city. The City Council is expected to sign and approve the ballot measure to be submitted for the general election.
Mayor Tim Brown said that as the city’s residents ask for more public safety and amenities, this could help with those costs.
The same ballot initiative was proposed in 2016, but it would have increased the tax to 13 percent, and failed by just eight votes.
Another ballot initiative, submitted by residents, will be decided this year—whether to separate San Clemente into voting districts.
City Council representatives are expected to sign their supporting arguments for the hotel tax ballot measure at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 31, at the City Council Chambers at 100 Avenida Presidio; rebuttals to the ballot measure are due to the City Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. on Aug. 3 at 910 Calle Negocio. The full statement of the ballot initiative arguments will be published by the City Clerk following press time. Check www.sanclementetimes.com for updates.
Brown and cronies need to go. Brunch of self serving lions. For gods sake the man got our wonderful principal Halt fired to save his kid a grade. Ask what this council has done for you lately vs what have they done for themselves. Go to any meeting to view arrogance and ineffectiveness
J McGiv – at least post your full name if you are going to attack me with lies online. I opposed the firing of Principal Halt and CUSD’s lame attempt to blame it on teacher misconduct. Read the news archives yourself But, I do welcome the public to come to any Council meeting, you can continue to see how we achieve balanced budgets, the ongoing fight by this Council against the Toll Road through town and try and improve the quality of life for our residents. But be comforted, I will try to keep the arrogance and ineffectiveness to a minimum going forward.