The Ocean Beach Town Council (OBTC) will soon consider candidates for 10 of 16 positions on its board of directors. The positions will become vacant as members’ two-year terms expire in September.
Although current board members can run for re-election, the Ocean Beach Election Committee is accepting and will consider letters of intent from all qualified applicants, according to Councilmember Barbara Schmidtknecht.
“If you would like to serve the community, submit your typewritten letter of intent,” she said.
Submitted letters of intent must be postmarked by Tuesday, Aug. 7, to be considered by the committee. The typewritten applicant letter can be sent to P.O. Box 7225, San Diego, CA, 92107.
Candidates must be at least 18 years old and live, work or own property in the 92107 ZIP code, Schmidtknecht said.
Letters should clearly state why the candidate wants to join the board and what experiences, skills and attributes qualify him or her for the position, she said.
Submitted letters will be bound and sent to all of the estimated 150 OBTC members, along with an election ballot.
Voters will cast their ballot and send it back through the mail, she said. Anyone who wants to become a member of the electorate can register online at www.obtowncouncil.org. Membership fees cost $15 for a single member and $20 for a family.
Candidates will also have a chance to meet with members of the community at the OBTC meeting Wednesday, Aug. 22, Schmidtknecht said.
Once candidates have had a chance speak to the community, the election committee will begin counting the votes, she said.
Winners will be sworn in at the Wednesday, Sept. 26 meeting, and the newly elected board will choose its officers at a future date.
The OBTC is also accepting nominations for the coveted Citizen of the Year Award.
Nomination letters can be sent to the same address as candidate letters.
So what does it take to be Citizen of the Year?
“Someone who’s been a volunteer, someone that shows pride in their community and goes that extra mile,” Schmidtknecht said.
Pat and Susan James won last year’s award for their contributions to the community, Schmidtknecht said.
The James’ own and operate James Gang Graphics in Ocean Beach. They are both involved in the Ocean Beach Historical Society, said Susan Reed, election committee co-chair.
Reed said anybody can be recognized as Citizen of the Year as long as someone else nominates them for the award.
“There’s people that do a lot of good stuff that you don’t hear about, unfortunately,” Reed said.
The letters will be sent out to voting members of the council along with election ballots, she said.
The OBTC is a nonprofit organization that provides a forum for community discussion and communicates the needs of the community to the appropriate agencies, according to the Town Council’s website.
The council also hosts community events such as the OB Chili Cook-Off, Pancake Breakfast at the Pier and OB Tree Festival Events.
For more information, call OBTC at (619) 977-6750.