The Peninsula Community Planning Board is turning its attention to a new year and a new election cycle that starts this month. And while the board continues to make slow progress on revamping its bylaws ” as required by the city ” the old rules are still in play.
Last year, infighting over candidate qualifications outlined in the bylaws caused a run-off election several months after the original election.
The board is currently accepting candidate applications for the five open board seats. The election takes place at the Hervey/Point Loma Branch Library, 3701 Voltaire St., on Thursday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m.
“Nobody really needs actually to fill out an application but we have an application form available,” said board chair Geoff Page. “They just have to provide information showing that they’re eligible to run.”
To be eligible a candidate must be least 18 years old and either be a Peninsula community resident or property owner. A candidate also qualifies if he or she owns or operates a business with an address in the community, according to the board’s bylaws. The board’s bylaws committee has not finished revamping the old bylaws in time for the new election season. The committee has been working on the bylaws to comply with city regulations, and clearing up confusion over whether a PCPB candidate can run for a seat without having attended a regular meeting prior to the election. Currently there is no such provision under the present bylaws.
Under the current bylaws a candidate needs a simple majority, 51 percent, to win. For more information, visit www.pcpb.net.