After originally announcing that Twentynine Palms City Council incumbent Dan Mintz would be appointed into his district 3 seat because no one qualified to run against him, the City is now reversing course and Mintz will be on the November ballot with voters able to write-in another candidate. The change comes because of errors in properly meeting specific filing and notification timelines combined with the timing of the regular Friday closing of City Hall. Former City Council member and current candidate Cora Heiser questioned the circumstances of Mintz being reappointed, rather than being on the ballot, and researched election code. Heiser found that after the filing deadline on Thursday the 9th, The city clerk did not give the city council a letter certifying that the election did not have enough nominees for District 3 on the 10th, the date required, because City Hall was closed on Friday the 10th. At the same time, Denise Cullum, who had filed for the District 3 seat, was not notified that she was short two signatures on her application in time to go out and get them, also because City Hall was closed on the 10th. Z107.7 News contacted Cullum, who said when she called City Hall on Monday the 13th she was told she “Did not qualify”. Z107.7 News sent queries to the City, who admitted to the errors and subsequently will change the ballot. Because of the change, Cullum told Z107.7 News that she would be mounting a write-in campaign for the seat. Twentynine Palms City Manager Frank Luckino said, “With only one person in District 3 that successfully completed the nomination papers, the Register of Voters asked the city how they wished to proceed, hold the election or appoint Mintz. That question is a policy question which staff was delivering August 28th, the next regularly scheduled Council Meeting.” He said legal Counsel reviewed the item and determined the City did not meet the 75 days required in the law. Luckino said as a result, staff is pulling the appointment off the agenda and District 3 will be on the ballot. He added, “Although this was a policy question for the Council, staff was giving guidance to have District 3 on the ballot. While this is a by-product of the new Districting elections, this ultimately is my responsibility as City Manager and I take full responsibility for this error. “
CITY OF TWENTYNINE PALMS ERRS IN ELECTION PROCEDURE, MINTZ WILL BE ON THE BALLOT
