News

Anyone interested in filling the Arcata City Council seat left vacant last month after Mayor Sofia Pereira stepped down to become the county’s Public Health director has until July 19 to apply.

At a June 24 special meeting, the city council opted to move forward with an appointment rather than hold a special election to fill the remainder of Pereira’s term, which ends in November of 2022.

Qualifications include being an at least 18-year-old Arcata resident who is registered to vote with a city address and those interested must obtain at least 20 but no more than 30 signatures from registered voters who live in the city.

“Once applications are received, nomination signatures will be verified and candidate statements will become available for public review,” a city news release states. “A City Council Candidate Forum will be scheduled to interview the applicants who qualify.”

Details on the interviews and ways for the public to participate are upcoming.

The new councilmember is expected to be sworn in at the beginning of the Aug. 18 meeting.

For full details on how to apply, read the city’s release below:

The Arcata City Council will be appointing a replacement for Sofia Pereira, who stepped down from her seat on the Council to take on a new role as Humboldt County’s Director of Public Health. The appointment must take place within 60 days of Pereira’s departure on Friday, June 25, and the new Council member will serve out the remainder of her term of office, through November of 2022.

The City Council adopts laws and sets policies to guide the City Manager and City staff in City operations. City Council members attend two regular meetings on the first and third Wednesday of each month in addition to other special meetings and study sessions, and various other monthly meetings of various regional partners.

Qualifications for individuals who wish to be considered for a seat on the Arcata City Council include that they must be at least 18 years old, must live within Arcata city limits, and are registered to vote at their Arcata residence address. Applicants must also obtain at least 20, but no more than 30, nomination signatures of registered voters who reside with Arcata city limits and are registered to vote at their Arcata residence.

Those who wish to be considered for the opening may make an in-person or Zoom appointment to receive application materials, beginning at 11 AM on Monday, June 28. To make a 15-30 minute appointment please call 707- 825-2103 or 707-822-5953 or email the City Clerk at [email protected].

Application information is also available online here, however candidates must demonstrate residency and receive the actual nomination form from the  city to be considered.

Complete application materials must be submitted by 5 PM on Monday, July 19.

Once applications are received, nomination signatures will be verified and candidate statements will become available for public review. A City Council Candidate Forum will be scheduled to interview the applicants who qualify. More information regarding the candidate interviews and methods for the public to provide input into the process will be released shortly.

The new Councilmember is expected to be sworn in at the beginning of the Wednesday, August 18 Council meeting.

Please email [email protected] or call 707-822-5953 with questions regarding the appointment process.

For more information, click here.