Signal Hill voters will decide on the future of two city council members, a city clerk, and a treasurer in the general municipal elections on Nov. 8.
In 2019, Signal Hill voters passed Measure N, which allowed the City to change the date of Signal Hill municipal elections to align with the state-wide general election. The measure came into effect on Nov. 3, 2020.
Measure N was created to address low voter turn-out by consolidating local elections with state primary or general elections.
While preparing the resolutions for the 2022 election, City Manager Hannah Shin-Heydorn stated that staff “realized” the ordinance had not yet been codified in the city charter. The council approved the amendment on Tuesday and a set of election-related resolutions.
The set of resolutions give notice of the election, document regulations for candidate statements and administer runoff election provisions, and request that the LA County Board of Supervisors render services.
All the resolutions passed, however, Councilmember Tina Hansen voted against the resolution to rescind run-off election provisions, which include drawing by lots—a decision-making process where the winner is chosen by picking an item at random like a slip of paper in a bucket.
“I am absolutely not in favor of drawing lots. Because once the other candidates are gone, now people have a chance to revote, and you’re going to have a different result,” Hansen said. “So I would not be in support of that.”
The City’s charter allows election officials to break a tie vote by either drawing by lot or conducting a runoff election, according to Shin-Heydorn.
In 1997, when the city was still conducting its own elections, the council adopted a resolution specifying that ties would be resolved by runoff elections. However, with the county’s available election services, the cost of conducting a runoff election is estimated at at least $50,000, Shin-Heydorn said.
Due to the high cost, the council adopted the resolution to rescind the council’s prior resolution and determine future ties will be resolved in a draw by lot.
The vote could be determined by a draw of straws or a flip of a coin.
Hansen was in favor of conducting a runoff election, which would mean the City spending $50,000 for another election run.
“People work too hard,” Hansen said. “We’ve had two elections in my time that have been decided by one vote. We’ve never had a tie but I absolutely would not support drawing by lot or flipping a coin.”
During the upcoming election, Signal Hill residents will decide on two city council members, a clerk, and a city treasurer, each with a four-year term.
As of June 16, Mayor Keir Jones and local real estate agent Richard Daskam have applied to run for a seat on the council.
