We are reminded, via press releases from the cities of Eureka and Fortuna, that the local fall election season is almost upon us!

Here on the ground – we’re not talking way high up in the stratospheres of state or federal office – the fall election is about cities. County government usually gets its business done in the spring, but the cities wait until the general election to elect their representatives.

So if you live in one of the Seven Cities of Humboldt – Eureka, Arcata, Fortuna, Rio Dell, Ferndale, Blue Lake, Trinidad – and you think you have something to offer your town’s government, this is your moment!

Starting Monday, July 15, you can take out papers to run for City Council on the Nov. 5 ballot. That paperwork must be completed and filled out and returned by Friday, August 9 – unless an incumbent councilmember decides not to run for reelection, in which case the deadline for that seat is extended to Wednesday, August 14.

The person you need to see to go about getting this done is your city’s City Clerk. You’ll find ‘em in your City Hall.

If you’ve never done this before, you’ll want to get a jump on it. The paperwork can be arduous, and that’s especially true if you plan to raise or spend money on your campaign. At the very least, you’ll need to gather up signatures from your friends and neighbors and future supporters, who have to be registered voters in the jurisdiction you’re seeking to represent. Those will be required for you to even get on the ballot.

Here’s a reminder that Eureka is a charter city, and so it can do things a bit differently. Eureka elects its councilmembers by neighborhood. This year, the city’s Second Ward (currently represented by Kati Moulton) and Fourth Ward (currently represented by Scott Bauer) are up for election. Here’s a map for reference. If you don’t live in the Second or Fourth Wards, you’re going to have to wait another two years before you get your chance to serve.

Also, this will be the first time Eurekans will elect their councilmember by ranked-choice voting. You don’t have to worry about being a spoiler!

(Fortuna is the county’s only other charter city, by the way, but Fortuna does elections in the regular way – anybody can run in any election, regardless of where in town they live.)

Now get to it, aspiring councilmembers! Good luck and God bless!