“General district election” is the district election required to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year, at which a successor shall be chosen for each director whose term of office expires in that month.
Resource Conservation DistrictsGeneral District Elections
Section § 9351
This law mandates that general district elections happen every even-numbered year in November, specifically on the first Tuesday after the first Monday. During these elections, new directors are elected to replace those whose terms are ending that month.
general district election director election November election
Section § 9352
This section explains who can become a director in a district. Generally, directors need to be registered voters in the state and meet specific residency and ownership criteria. They must live in the district, own property there, or have served as an associate director for two years, or be a designated agent of a landowner.
For districts divided into sections for director selection, these residency rules apply to the specific section they represent.
The Suisun and Grasslands Resource Conservation Districts have special rules allowing landowners or their agents to serve as directors even if they don't live in the district, due to the area's unique conditions. Land ownership is confirmed via the most recent county assessment roll.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 9352(a) Directors shall be registered voters in the state.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 9352(b) Except as provided in subdivision (d), directors shall (1) reside within the district and either own real property in the district or alternatively have served, pursuant to the district’s rules, for two years or more as an associate director providing advisory or other assistance to the board of directors, or (2) be a designated agent of a resident landowner within the district.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 9352(c) If the board of directors has provided for selection of directors by division, these residency requirements shall apply to the division the director represents, rather than to the district as a whole.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 9352(d) The Legislature finds and declares that the primary function of the Suisun Resource Conservation District and Grasslands Resource Conservation District in maintaining wildlife and wetland habitats will be impaired unless there is adequate opportunity for participation by landowners on the boards of directors of those districts. The Legislature further finds and declares that, because of the natural conditions prevailing in the territory of those districts, the majority of privately owned lands therein are owned by persons residing outside the districts. Therefore, owners of land within the Suisun Resource Conservation District and Grasslands Resource Conservation District, or their agents, may serve on the respective boards of directors thereof, regardless of whether they are residents of the district. For purposes of this subdivision, ownership of land shall be determined from the last equalized assessment roll of the county or counties within which the district is situated.
director eligibility registered voters district residency
Section § 9353
This law states that districts covered by this chapter must follow the rules set out in the Uniform District Election Law, unless there is a specific exception mentioned in the chapter.
Except as otherwise provided in the chapter, districts governed by this chapter are subject to the provisions of the Uniform District Election Law.
district elections Uniform District Election Law election rules
Section § 9354
If you're elected as a director, you need to officially take an oath within 20 days after you receive your election certificate to qualify for the position.
Elected directors shall qualify within 20 days from the date of receipt of their certificates of election by taking the oath.
elected directors qualification certificate of election
Section § 9355
This law states that elected and qualified directors will officially start their roles at noon on the last Friday of November after they are elected.
The directors so elected and qualified shall take office at noon on the last Friday in November following their election.
directors election take office
Section § 9356
This law outlines how directors of certain districts are elected. Typically, directors are elected by the entire district. However, a district can decide to elect directors by smaller areas or divisions within the district to cut costs. Before making this change, the district must publish the proposed changes and hold a hearing to discuss them. If the change is approved, current directors stay in their positions until the next election, when new directors are elected for each division. After the election, directors classify themselves into two groups with different term lengths. If there’s a proposal to change the number of directors or divisions, similar procedures must be followed. Additionally, if directors are appointed instead of elected in certain cases, appointments are made by division and take effect as if they were elected.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 9356(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), directors shall be elected at large.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 9356(b) A district may, by ordinance, provide for the election of directors by division. In order to reduce election costs, the divisions shall be established along the boundaries of existing voting precincts. Prior to adopting an ordinance pursuant to this subdivision, the text of the proposed ordinance, including proposed division boundaries, shall be published pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code, together with notice of the hearing at which the ordinance will be considered. At the time stated in the notice for the hearing, the board of directors shall consider the proposal and shall hear any and all objections thereto. If, after the hearing, the board determines it to be in the best interests of the district, it shall adopt the ordinance as proposed or as amended at the hearing. Directors in office at the time of adoption of the ordinance shall remain in office until the next general district election, at which a director shall be elected to each division established by the ordinance. The directors elected at that election shall meet and classify themselves by lot into two classes as nearly equal in number as possible. The term of office of those in the class having the least number shall expire at noon on the last Friday in November of the next even-numbered year after the year in which the meeting is held. The term of office of those in the other class shall expire at noon on the last Friday in November of the second even-numbered year after the year in which the meeting is held.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 9356(c) If it is proposed to change the number of directors of a district divided into divisions, or if it is proposed to change the number of divisions in a district, that change shall be conditional upon adoption by the board of directors of a new or revised ordinance under subdivision (b) and the provisions and procedures of subdivision (b) shall be applicable thereto.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 9356(d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (c), in any district in which directors are appointed pursuant to Section 9314 or 9316, the board of supervisors of the principal county shall make the appointments by division, as called for in the ordinance adopted pursuant to subdivision (b), and those appointments shall become effective, and the terms of existing directors shall expire, on the same date as if the directors were elected.
director election at-large election division election
Section § 9357
County supervisors in a county cannot also serve as district directors at the same time.
Members of county boards of supervisors shall not be eligible to simultaneously hold office as a district director.
county supervisors district director simultaneous office holding
Section § 9358
If you want to nominate someone as a candidate in the district, you need to do it in writing. The nomination must be signed by at least five landowners from that district and submitted to the main county's election official.
Nomination of candidates shall be in writing and signed by at least five landowners of the district. Nominations shall be filed with the county elections official of the principal county.
candidate nomination landowners district election
Section § 9359
All registered voters in a district can vote in district elections, unless there's a special rule for electing directors by division under another section.
Except as election of directors by division may be provided pursuant to Section 9356, all registered voters in a district shall be qualified electors and eligible to vote in district elections.
district elections registered voters qualified electors
