Checking in: two reminders & a bit of election news
Who's running for reelection?
Greetings Readers!
I’m checking in with a few reminders and a bit of election news. First, I want to remind you that I’m hosting a Local Hero Subscriber Happy Hour this coming Monday, the 16th, at the Ojai Valley Brewery. I invite you to stop by, make a new friend, and support two local businesses!
Next reminder: folks, 2026 is an election year, and we have a governor, a member of Congress, and a City Council to elect (among others). Californians will vote (by mail or in-person) on June 2nd and again on November 3rd. (I recommend voting early, for the record.)
I think it’s safe to say that this election, which takes place on this country’s 250th anniversary, represents a crossroads. Indeed, the President of the United States is leading an active voter suppression effort. So, if you care about democracy, human rights, and the importance of facts — I suggest voting. And that means getting prepared. There are two steps I suggest taking right now:
Check your voter registration and/or register to vote. (Be sure to double check that your voter registration address is current.)
Once registered, you can sign up to track your vote-by-mail ballots with Ballotrax. I highly recommend it.
When the time comes, you can also confirm that your ballot was received and counted via Ballottrax.
Anyways — primary ballots will be mailed out to voters no less than 29 days prior to Election Day — which means you should expect to see your (primary) ballot in early May. Remember: primary elections determine who we see on our November (general election) ballots.
Speaking of our November ballots — four of our five current Ojai City Council members are up for reelection in November: Mayor Andy Gilman and Councilmembers Rachel Lang, Leslie Rule, and Andy Whitman.
The nomination period for the general election will run from July 13th to August 7th1, according to the Ventura County Clerk and Recorder’s Office. What does that mean? Our City Council members — and any potential opponents — have until early August to get their name on the November ballot.
So, should we expect to see all four incumbent Councilmembers on the ballot in November? I asked!
Andy Gilman
“It appears so. How’s that for an answer,” Gilman said with a smile during his March 2nd Brown Bag lunch meeting in Libbey Park. “I want to care more about doing the current job well than about being reelected.”
Rachel Lang
“Yes, I’m planning to run again! We are doing such great things, I want to keep going and see them through to completion,” Lang said.
Leslie Rule
“I have not decided. You know, I waver,” Rule explained. “I’m within the probably to the probably not space. Which means that it could go either way.”
Andy Whitman
Whitman said it’s “too early” in the election cycle to comment.
Fair!
Readers, I’ll leave you today with images from the Carrizo Plain this past weekend. There’s so much darkness in our world today, being outside helps me remember that there’s tremendous beauty, too. I look forward to seeing some of you on Monday.
Specifically, the nomination period runs 113-88 days prior to an election. The nomination period for the primary election just closed.