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Election Information

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The Santa Clarita Community College District, which operates College of the Canyons, is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees that is elected by the community.

Elections are held bi-annually in even-number years in November and appear on the Los Angeles County general election ballot. A special election to fill the remaining term of Trustee Area 1 will be consolidated with the Nov. 5, 2024 general election and appear on the same ballot.

The district is divided into five trustee areas, with each trustee representing an area of roughly equal population. The trustee areas, current board members, and next election are summarized here:

Information Sessions

College of the Canyons will host information sessions for persons interested in running for the board to provide information about the election process and the role of trustees well in advance of the candidate filing period. Three seats – Trustee Areas 2, 3 and 4 – are up for election in November 2024. Trustees are required to reside in the area they are elected to represent. The sessions will cover eligibility requirements, ideal qualifications, legal responsibilities, conflict-of-interest criteria, and the election process. Potential candidates are not required to attend.

• Wednesday, May 22, 10 a.m. – Room 201 of Canyons Hall, College of the Canyons, Valencia campus, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road; free parking near building in Lot 2.
• Online Zoom Session – Recorded May 15 | Watch

The candidate filing period opens July 15 and closes Aug. 9.

For questions about the information sessions, please call the Chancellor’s Office at (661) 362-3400 or email Marilu Ramirez.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why did the Santa Clarita Community College District implement by-trustee area elections?
  The district changed its election system after its election practices were challenged in a lawsuit under the California Voting Rights Act. The lawsuit was settled, and the terms of the settlement provided for implementing by-trustee areas and holding elections in even-number years.
• How were the boundaries for the trustee areas determined?

  The District hired a demographic consultant to evaluate the community’s population data and develop trustee area maps in accordance with 10 criteria:

  1. The boundaries of the trustee areas shall be established so that the trustee areas are equal in population as defined by law.
  2. The boundaries of the trustee areas shall not be gerrymandered in violation of the principles established by the United States Supreme Court in Shaw v. Reno, 509 U.S. 630 (1993), and its progeny.
  3. The boundaries of the trustee areas shall be established so that the trustee areas do not result in a denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen to vote on account of race or color as provided in Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act.
  4. The boundaries of the trustee areas shall observe communities of interest, including: rural or urban populations; social interests; agricultural, industrial or service industry interests; and the like, insofar as practicable.
  5. The boundaries of the trustee areas shall be compact, insofar as practicable.
  6. The boundaries of the trustee areas shall be created to contain cohesive, contiguous territory, insofar as practicable.
  7. The boundaries of the trustee areas may observe topography and geography, such as the existence of mountains, flat land, forest lands, man-made geographical features such as highways, major roadways and canals, etc., as natural divisions between districts, insofar as practicable.
  8. Unless otherwise required by law, the trustee areas shall be created using whole census blocks.
  9. The boundaries of the trustee areas may avoid the “pairing” of incumbents in the same trustee area, insofar as this does not conflict with the constitution and laws of the State of California and the United States.
  10. The boundaries of the trustee areas shall comply with such other factors which become known during the redistricting process and are formally adopted by the Board of Trustees.

  
  The criteria were contained in Resolution 2021/2-12, which was approved on the board’s October 13, 2021 meeting agenda.

• Were the trustee areas adjusted following the 2020 Census?
  Yes. The population growth of the area served by the college district grew more than 7.6 percent from 2010 to 2020, according to data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau and released by the California Department of Finance. The District hired a demographic consultant to evaluate the population data and develop adjusted trustee area maps that balanced the population in each trustee area. After holding public hearings in December 2021 and January 2022 on three proposed maps, the board adopted the map that will be used for future elections.
• When a vacancy occurs on the board of trustees, what are the board’s options for filling the vacant seat?
  Education Code section 5091 subdivision (a)(1) states the governing board “shall, within 60 days of the vacancy or the filing of the deferred resignation, either order an election or make a provisional appointment to fill the vacancy.”  There are exceptions when the resignation falls within a window between 6 months and 130 days before the election.  See Question 3, below.
• What is a “deferred resignation”?
  In their resignation letter, a board member may specify a future date when the resignation will take effect. Under Education Code section 5091 subdivision (a)(1), a governing board member may not defer the effective date of their resignation for more than 60 days after the member files the resignation with the county superintendent of schools.
• Are there exceptions to ordering an election or making a provisional appointment if the vacancy occurs in an election year?
  Yes.  Education Code section 5093 addresses exceptions.
  Education Code section 5093 subdivision (a) states: “There shall be no special election or appointment to fill a vacancy on a governing board if the vacancy occurs within four months of the end of the term of that position.” 
  Education Code section 5093 subdivision (b) states: “Section 5091 shall not apply to a vacancy on a governing board if the vacancy occurs, or a resignation specifying a deferred effective date is filed with the county superintendent of schools, during the period between six months and 130 days prior to a regularly scheduled governing board election and the position is not scheduled to be filled at such election. In such a case, the position shall be filled at a special election for that position to be consolidated with the regular election.” 
• When does a vacancy actually occur?  When a board member announces their intent to resign, or when they submit a letter of resignation?
  A board vacancy occurs when the board member’s letter of resignation is filed with the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) or on the deferred resignation date, whichever is later. 
• Can a trustee’s seat be added to the general election in November, along with the other three seats already scheduled for election?
  Yes.  As outlined in Education Code section 5093 subdivision (b), a seat could be added to the ballot with the three seats scheduled to appear on the ballot. 
• Is there a deadline by which a trustee must submit their resignation to ensure the seat appears on the November ballot?
  Yes. A trustee’s resignation must be filed with LACOE no later than June 28, 2024 (130 days before November 5, 2024).  If the Trustee files their resignation outside that window, the Board makes a decision whether to hold an election or make an appointment.
• What steps must be taken to add a trustee’s seat to the November ballot?
  A trustee must submit a letter of resignation between May 5 and June 28, 2024, to be within the period defined in Education Code section 5093 subdivision (b). 
  Following the submission of the resignation, the Board of Trustees must pass a resolution calling for a special election that will be consolidated with the general election in November. That resolution can be passed at a business meeting or a special meeting of the board.  
• What is the deadline by which the board must adopt the resolution calling for an election?
  According to the elections calendar provided by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, July 5 is the last day for governing boards to adopt a resolution calling the school district governing board member election and setting forth the specifications of the election order.