Nominations open for three Shafter council seats

The nomination period for candidates running for the Shafter City Council began on July 13 and will run until Monday August 7, 2020. Residents interested in running for a seat on the City Council must be a registered voter and otherwise qualified to vote for that office at the time that nomination papers are issued. You must be registered to vote in Shafter, be 18 years of age or older, and live within the boundaries of the city of Shafter.

In an effort to protect constituents, City officials, and City staff from COVID-19, the City is requesting that all members of the public interested in running for City Council be seen by appointment only.

There will be three seats available for the November 2020 election, with three current Councilmembers having their terms expiring in December 2020. Mayor Gilbert Alvarado, Manuel Garcia and Chad Givens have terms that are expiring.

The City Council serves as the legislative and policy making body of the city of Shafter, formulating city policy, approving new programs and services, appropriates funds, and generally supervises the operations of the city government. As elected representatives of the citizens, the City Council is responsible to all the people, and as such, devotes its energies to making decisions which are in the best interest of the public welfare.

Council members also are closely involved in a number of local and regional intergovernmental organizations, including the Kern Council of Governments (KernCOG), Kern Association of Cities, Kern Economic Development Corporation,and local service clubs and community groups.

The Council also leads a unique strategic planning effort each year to determine important issues and set overall goals for the city that year. The city's annual budget then becomes the guide and means for implementing the strategies of the Vision Project, which was last updated in 2011, prioritizing the city's goals and vision for the future.

Beginning this year, the position of City Council member is paid a monthly stipend of $200 for council members and $300 for Mayor.

A general election will take place in November of 2020 to fill the upcoming vacancies. Those interested can call contact City Clerk Yazmina Pallares at 661-746-5012 or email at ypallares@shafter.com.