Malibu Election Season Starts Next Week

Malibu's local version of Decision 2012 kicks off soon. The nomination period for the  campaign begins next week on Monday. Voters will select three candidates to fill seats on the council. Election Day is April 10, although many Malibu residents vote early by mail.

Two incumbents—John Sibert and Jefferson "Zuma Jay" Wagner—are eligible to run and one—Pamela Conley Ulich—is not. She will be termed-out after serving eight years on the council. Nobody has officially stated an intention to run in the upcoming race, although there are many rumors floating around that vary in credibility.

When the nomination period begins, candidates can "pull papers" from . They have until Jan. 18 to return the papers, signed by at least 20 registered Malibu voters.

Council terms last four years. There is an election in Malibu every two years for either three or two seats. In the last three-seat election, in 2008, Conley Ulich was the top vote-getter by a large margin with 2,127 votes. Wagner (1,695) and Sibert (1,422) were also elected. The other candidates were then-Board of Education member Kathy Wisnicki (1,398) and Susan Tellem (1,167), who currently sits on the Public Safety Commission.

In Malibu's early years, council campaigns included crowded fields, with 32 people running in 1990 and 20 competing in 1992. This changed beginning in 1994, with no more than seven people running in elections through 2008. Then in 2010, 10 people were in the contest, with Laura Zahn Rosenthal and Lou La Monte getting elected.

Important Council Campaign Dates (from the )

Dec. 19 First Day of period for Nomination Papers

Jan. 13 Last Day to Call Election for Ballot Measures

Jan. 18 Last day to file Nomination Papers 

Jan. 19 Secretary of State to determine order of names on ballot

Jan. 26 Last day to cancel election for insufficient candidates

Feb. 13 - March 27 Filing period for Write-in Candidate

March 12 - April 3 Voters may request vote-by-mail ballots

March 26 Last day to register to vote

April 10 Election Day

April 23 Canvass of election results and council reorganization