How to Run for Imperial Beach City Council

Think you have good ideas to move Imperial Beach forward or upset with current city leadership?

Run for the Imperial Beach City Council.

The Candidate Filing Period for the Nov. 6 election is from July 16 to Aug. 10, said .

Councilmembers Jim King and Brian Bilbray both said they plan to seek re-election. King was elected in 2006 and Bilbray in a special election in 2010 following the death of Councilman Fred McLean.

Declaration of candidacy papers along with 20 signatures by registred voters in Imperial Beach must be filed with Hald by Aug. 10, or Aug. 15 if King or Bilbray withdraw from the race.

According to data provided by the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, as of March there were about 10,000 registered voters in IB.

In 2010 when six candidates competed for three open seats on the city council, it took about 2,000 votes to be elected to office.

In 2008, winners received about 3,000 votes or more.

In order to qualify for the office:

- must be a citizen of the United States of America and resident of Imperial Beach;

- must be registered to vote.Click here to register or verify you are registered to vote;

- may not be in prison or jail, or on parole or on probation for a felony conviction;

- must not be found mentally incompetent by a court

- must be at least 18-years-old or older by Election Day

According to section 202 of the state election code, members of the military that wish to seek office and are deployed out of the state or country may have a lawyer given the power of attorney to file candidacy papers on their behalf.

A candidate statement may be submitted to be included in a voter's pamphlet. A 200-word statement costs $450.

According to data from the State Controller John Chiang's office, in 2010 City Councilmembers were paid up to $9,000 a year and received pension benefits and health, dental and vision insurance.

Being a member of the IB City Council means wearing many hats. City council is also considered the city's planning commission, public financing authority, housing authority and successor agency of the Imperial Beach Redevelopment Agency.