Published May 14, 2012 | 
I was asked (twice) if I was going to write about the City Clerk’s election contest, but I lacked the time to do it justice either from a legal or political perspective. Not that it was not interesting, as it was the first election contest (aside from ballot challenges) that I can remember in a long time. On the other hand, it’s like winning an argument on the Internet. Even if you win, what do the sides have to show for it?
I think the problem with the hyper-politicization of San Bernardino politics is that partisans on both sides were acting as if the City Clerk was the key to the whole balance of political power in the City of San Bernardino. I can understand why each side would not want a City Clerk that was hostile to their perceived interests. However, the City Clerk is far from the most important elected official in the City. The job is largely ministerial; the law requires the City Clerk to do certain things without discretion.
Published February 20, 2012 | On tomorrow’s Mayor and Common Council agenda is an item certifying the City Clerk’s election pursuant to Charter section 11 and San Bernardino Municipal Code Section 2.56.130(B).
Published February 8, 2012 | A detailed legal analysis of the recount process in California are on the legal blog.
| Registration & Turnout |
| 71,881 Voters |
| Vote Count | Percent | |
| Precinct Turnout | 12,192 | 16.96% |
| Total | 12,192 | 16.96% |
| City Clerk, City of San Bernardino |
| 170/170 100.00% |
| Vote Count | Percent | |
| GEORGEANN ”GIGI” HANNA | 6,066 | 50.01% |
| AMELIA SANCHEZ-LOPEZ | 6,064 | 49.99% |
| Total | 12,130 | 100.00% |
Gigi Hanna won by a slimmer margin than 50.01 percent, the number was just rounded up from 50.000824402308326 percent of the vote. By contrast, Amelia Sanchez Lopez received .499917559761674 percent of the vote. In comparison, there were 12,108 votes in the final certified results of the Primary Municipal Election, which means that there were 22 more voters in this election than in the General Municipal Election.
There was a tie vote in the March 1979 vote for 7th Ward Council in San Bernardino between Robert McBay and the eventual winner, Jack Strickler. The vote was tied 1284 to 1284 before the Council broke the tie with a coin flip.
here was an election contest to the results of the General Election in May 1, 1979 between Ralph Hernandez, Luther Fair and one other candidate for the 3rd Ward seat. The initial election results were that Fair won, then the official canvass said t that Hernandez won by four votes, then the recount was 793 votes for Hernandez and 790 votes for Fair. Fair filed an election contest. Judge Patrick Morris decided that Hernandez received 796 votes, and Fair received 794 votes. The decision was reversed and remanded by the Fourth District Court of Appeal on March 12, 1981. After remand, Judge Morris found 791 votes for Hernandez and 783 votes for Fair. It went to the Fourth District Court of Appeal and the judgement confirming Hernandez’s election was upheld on December 23, 1982. As far as I can tell, though, Hernandez was sworn in before the first Common Council meeting in June in 1979.
Published February 7, 2012 | Today, February 7, 2012 is the last day to turn in ballots for the San Bernardino General (run-off) Municipal Election for City Clerk.
According to the mail ballot instructions provided with the ballots, voters who have not turned in their ballots can do by personally bringing them to:
San Bernardino Registrar of Voters
777 E. Rialto Avenue
San Bernardino CA 92415
OR
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral
2525 N. Arrowhead Avenue
San Bernardino CA 9205 (from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on February 7, 2012).
They must be actually received by 8 p.m. by the elections officials at either location to count.
If you have spoiled your ballot, call the Registrar at (909) 387-3800, and they’ll give you instructions on getting a new ballot.
The results will be posted by the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters starting at approximately 8:15 p.m.
The page looks like this right now:
Last Updated: January 24, 2012 4:19 PM
Registration & Turnout 71,881 Voters
Vote Count Percent Precinct Turnout 0 0.00% Total 0 0.00%
City Clerk, City of San Bernardino 0/170 0.00%
Vote Count Percent GEORGEANN ”GIGI” HANNA 0 0.00% AMELIA SANCHEZ-LOPEZ 0 0.00% Total 0 0.00%
Published February 6, 2012 | I received the last Gigi Hanna for San Bernardino City Clerk mailer recently (on Thursday, I think).
The front says: “Reminder Your chance to keep our City Clerk’s office independent is about to expire. Professional. Unbiased. Leadership.
The back says:
In November 2011 more than 70 percent of voters said they wanted to keep the San Bernardino City Clerk’s office professional, neutral and committed to transperancy.
Now is the time to affirm the committment to competent, ethical governance; San Bernardino deserves both.
Gigi Hanna is the CLEAR choice for City Clerk because:
- She declined endorsement form local elected officials, seeking support solely on her own merits in order to maintain independence in the office.
- She has 25 years of experience in communications and is an expert in public records.
- Her graduate studies centered on open government issues and she has formal City Clerk training.
Mail your ballots before Friday, February 3 or call us at (909) 709-2019 for a ride to the Registrar of Voters.
I never received the last piece from Amelia Sanchez Lopez, so I am not sure what it said.
Both candidates ran a “clean” campaign in the General Municipal Election, though there was certainly a war of words in the comments section of the local newspaper and on Facebook among their supporters.
At this point, I think the vast majority of people have voted in the mail-in election. The San Bernardino Registrar of Voters says that the first preliminary numbers will be released at approximately 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2012. According to the PE, more than 10,500 votes have been returned as of a few days ago. There were approximately 12,500 votes cast in the Primary municipal election, so there may be a few more votes coming in, but I wouldn’t expect turn-out to me much more than in November.
Published February 2, 2012 | Though I had heard there was a new Amelia Sanchez Lopez flier, I have not yet seen it. Since the calendar, I have heard nothing from Gigi Hanna, beyond the proxy war going on in the local newspaper’s letters to the editor, except this from her Facebook page:
Remember to mail your ballots for City Clerk THIS WEEK if you haven’t yet done so. Or email me if you need a ride to the Registrar of Voters office, 777 E. Rialto Ave., on Monday Feb 6 or Tuesday Feb 7.
Like · Comment · Monday at 5:15pm ·
Published January 23, 2012 | Last week, either on either Friday or Saturday, I received another mailer from Amelia Sanchez Lopez. The mailer is four pages, in color, and about half of an 8 1/2 by 11 brochure. The front is labeled “MAIL-IN BALLOT ELECTION GUIDE”
On the left it shows a mock up of the ballot and on the right are four steps corresponding with the ballot:
- Use a BLACK BALLPOINT PEN to cast your vote.
- VOTE FOR AMELIA SANCHEZ LOPEZ by connecting the two parts of the arrow next to Amelia’s name on your ballot.
- SIGN YOUR ENVELOPE – include your signature, voting address and the date. Ballots in unsigned envelopes will NOT be counted.
- MAIL IN YOUR BALLOT TODAY – NO postage is necessary. Ballots must be received by the Registrar of Voters no later than February 7. Mail no later than Friday, February 3, 2012 so your ballot arrives on time.
- QUESTIONS? – Please call the Registrar of Voters at 909-387-8300
The second page is titled “Amelia For City Clerk
PROVEN EXPERIENCE
- ONLY candidate for City Clerk with extensive financial and executive management experience.
- Executive Director of a local non-profit organization; 20 years administrative experience.
- Responsible for coordinating the County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Program. Helped pass a tough city ordinance against adults who buy alcohol for minors.
- Completed City Clerk Training course with the City Clerks Association of California.
HOMETOWN VALUES
- Five generations of Amelia’s family have lived and worked in San Bernardino. Member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.
- Graduate of the San Bernardino Citizens Academy. Worked with City Law Enforcement to shut down the notorious Hudson “Rave Club”.
- Neighborhood Leader and City Planning Commissioner.
- Community Volunteer who helped to protect our right to vote by defeating Measure C in 2010.
Also on the second page is a picture of Council member Robert Jenkins appointing Amelia Sanchez Lopez to the San Bernardino City Planning Commission. Amelia Sanchez Lopez’s contact information is given as www.amelialopezforcityclerk.com, friendsofamelialopez@yahoo.com, and 909-882-7085.
The last page is titled “Trusted and Respected” and features a picture of Amelia Sanchez Lopez with Former San Bernardino Mayor Judith Valles, former Mayor Evlyn Wilcox, Council member Robert Jenkins, Council member Wendy McCammack, San Bernardino School Board Member Judi Penman and Council member Elect John Valdivia. There are also quotes from Chas Kelley, firefighter Nathan Lopez, and former San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce President Jack Hill.
The back page has a picture of Ameila Sanchez Lopez with the legend “Integrity We Trust” and “Vote Amelia Sanchez Lopez for City Clerk” and “Special Vote-By-Mail Election.
I have not heard anything new from Gigi Hanna; her last Facebook post is dated January 11, 2012, the last mail piece was the calendar I wrote about earlier, which arrived more than a week ago. I checked Gigi Hanna’s website, and there do not appear to be any changes. Even the supporters list was the same, with a date of January 11, 2012 on the PDF metadata. I continue to pass large Gigi Hanna billboards and large wooden signs in my travels through the City.
Published January 19, 2012 | A new mailer was sent recently paid for by the Friends of Amelia Sanchez Lopez for San Bernardino City Clerk 2011. It is an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet printed in color. The front is titled: “Our Voice at City Hall Integrity… Dedication… Experience.”
The next section is titled “Leadership For Working Families.” Under the title is a quote from Laurie Stalnaker, Secretary/Treasurer of the Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties: “Working families can count on Amelia Sanchez Lopez to protect our right to vote and to oppose unfair budget cuts at City Hall.” Next to the quote is a black and white photograph titled: “Five generations of Amelia’s family have lived and worked in San Bernardino. (Amelia second from right-back row. Judging from the clothing in the photograph, I would estimate that the picture is from the 1960s.
In the middle of the front page, another section is titled “Experience To Serve Our Community.” The section features a quote from United States Congressman Joe Baca that states the: “residents of San Bernardino will benefit greatly from Amelia’s experience, leadership and commitment to providing transparency and quality city services.” Next to the quote is a color photograph of Joe Baca.
The bottom of the front page has a color picture with Former Mayor Judith Valles with Amelia Sanchez Lopez. The bottom of the flier says “Join Labor, Firefighters & Community Leaders” and “Vote by Mail Amelia Sanchez Lopez Your Next City Clerk.
The back of the mailer says “Important Message for Democrats.” It quotes Ron Wall, Chair of the San Bernardino County Democratic Central Committee as saying the “San Bernardino Democratic Party endorses Amelia Sanchez Lopez for City Clerk. She will ensure honest elections for all the people of San Bernardino.”
A large color photograph of Amelia Sanchez Lopez is in the center left of the back of the mailer.
The mailer concludes with the same contact information for Amelia Sanchez Lopez: (909) 882-7085 or friendsofamelialopez@yahoo.com or www.amelialopezforcityclerk.com and “SPECIAL VOTE-BY-MAIL ELECTION Please mail in your ballot as soon as possible!”
Published January 16, 2012 | Most every eligible voter has probably received the two mailers from Gigi Hanna for City Clerk, but for the benefit of those that are not in San Bernardino, here is a post dedicated to them. Rather than post them (or Amelia Sanchez-Lopez’s mailers for that matter), I’ll describe them in pertinent part. The first is a a one page four color two-sided sheet (kind of an 8 1/2 by 11 postcard). In which Gigi Hanna gives her qualifications again. The back of the mailer has a list of supporters, and links to her website: www.gigihanna4sbcityclerk.com for a complete list of supporters.
The card does not have all these names, but the website, according to a PDF file dated January 11, 2012, gives these names (I have separated them by commas which do not appear in the original:
As residents, business owners and community leaders in San Bernardino—your neighbors—we support Gigi Hanna for San Bernardino City Clerk. She is the right candidate, at the right time, for the right reasons. She is the CLEAR choice.
George Aguilar, Ramiro Aguilar, Alex Aldasoro, Evelyn Alexander, Nicholas Alexander, Mark Alvarez, Blythe Anderson, Raul Avila, Steve & Peggy Avila, Dr. Albert Arteaga, Barbara Babcock, George Beltz, Roslyn & Marv Billings, Brian Brewer, Erin Brinker, Darrell & Betty Brooks, Marta Brown, Hardy & Cheryl Brown, Hardy Brown, Jr., Trevor Cairn, Dan Carlone, Danny Castro, Pratap Champsi, Ken Clark, Eve & Bill Clayton, Al Cline, Hillel Cohn, Dr. Bill Coleman, Carol Cooper, Dr. John & Beryl Craig, Stephanie & Byron Congdon, Bobbi Cummings, Bill & Jan Cunnigham, Jim & Sunny Damron, John & Dannell, Duran Steve & Suzie Earp, Jim & Diane Eble, Jan Edey, Chehab & Bricia El Awar, Carla Figuerrora, Pamela & Rondy French, John Futch, Drs. Ernest & Dorothy Garcia, Tim Garcia, Jackie Gonzalez, Nick Gonzalez, Diane Grant, Betti Grim, Art Guererro, Joe & Dani Gutierrez-Neri, Lynda Hartzell, Peggi Hazlett, Danny Hendricks, Margaret Hill, Esther Jimenez, Marilyn Karnig, Phil Kassel, Jonathon Longo, Susan Longville, Lynn Merrill, Jerry Moya, Maureen Devlin, Murphy Owen, Murphy Bruce Nelson, Joe & Dani Gutierrez-Neri, Scott Noon, Clara Ocampo, Lorraine Ocampo, Einar Martin Olson, Steve Oquendo, Marilyn & Jerry Patterson, Dena & Ron Peters, Kay Porter, Doug & Serena Potter, Tim Prince, Tracylyn & Ron Sharitt, Barbara Skye, Pat Spafford, James Ramos, Robert Rego, Euphemia Reyes, Rocket Rios, Jonathon Ruiz, Kay & Nacho Salazar, Thom Salsbury, Marilyn Sauer, Lynda & Phil Savage, Joyce Seeger, James Malcolm Smith, Jane Sneddon, Orville & Margy Spears, Marcey & Gerry Stanton, Terrance Stone, Linda & Steve Sutherland, Carolyn Tillman, Chuck & Bobbie Terrell, John Whitehair, Lydia Whitehead, Diana Williams, David Winston.
No doubt readers will recognize many of the names on the list.
The second mailer is a 2012 calendar with a variety of dates, including the deadline for ballots to be received and the dates of council meetings. The calendar has very nice photographs of San Bernardino landmarks taken by Gigi Hanna’s husband, Tony Barber.
Published January 12, 2012 | Signs have been popping up again within the last week. Gigi Hanna has again purchased large billboards that look similar to her 2011 signs, except they have a yellow band on the right corner reminding voters to mail in their ballots and that the deadline is February 7, 2012 (while driving, I can neither take a picture nor remember the exact verbiage). I don’t see it on her Facebook page, so I cannot tell you the wording. I have seen yard signs for Amelia Sanchez Lopez, which obviously are different than in the primary election in 2011 because they are single candidate.
Other than that, there does not yet seem to be any advertising from one side that specifically mentions by name the other candidate. According to the letter from Rachel Clark in the ballot, there will be a debate, but there is nothing on the City’s website as of yet.