Clerk-Recorder Strives to Correct Los Osos CSD Election Error
Author: Clerk-Recorder's Office
Date: 11/16/2018 3:40 PM
The County Clerk-Recorder’s Office is working to correct a clerical error on the November 6, 2018 election for the Los Osos Community Services District (CSD) directors contest.
The County Clerk-Recorder’s Office is working to correct a clerical error on the November 6, 2018 election for the Los Osos Community Services District (CSD) directors contest.
“I take full, personal responsibility for the error of misclassifying one of the three Los Osos CSD’s seats as a two-year term when it should have been classified as a four-year term,” said Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Tommy Gong, whose office conducts elections for San Luis Obispo County. “I recognize the impact and gravity of the mistake and deeply regret it.”
The clerical error listed incumbent Christine Womack’s open seat as a two-year term during the nomination period, rather than a four-year term, which meant she ran unopposed and was not listed on the ballot. As a result, she was mistakenly appointed to the purported two-year seat by the County Board of Supervisors at Gong’s recommendation on November 6, 2018. Now, Gong is recommending that the County Board of Supervisors rescind Womack’s appointment. The Board of Supervisors will consider this recommendation at its public meeting on Tuesday.
The Los Osos CSD Board of Directors can then decide what to do with Womack’s seat. Her term is set to expire December 7, 2018, which could be extended until the vacancy can be filled. The Los Osos CSD Board of Directors will have the option of appointing an individual to fill the vacancy for a two-year term or call for a special election which would be held November 2019.
Gong will certify the election results of the top two candidates with the most votes for the two legitimate open four-year term seats listed on the ballot, as those candidates were listed correctly. They will not be forced to run again for the same seats.
Gong is taking steps to change procedures in his office and prevent this from happening again.
“While we can’t undo the mistake, we can correct it and ensure that it doesn’t happen again,” Gong said. “I apologize to the Board of Supervisors and the Los Osos Community Services District: its board, staff, candidates, and voters of the community.”
For questions, please contact Clerk-Recorder Tommy Gong at (805) 781-5080.
