Can You Answer These Questions to Become Next Councilman?

By Martin Henderson

Gentlemen, start your resumés. 

The command goes for ladies, too, who have an interest in being appointed a seat on the Lake Forest City Council by the four active members: Mayor Scott Voigts, Mayor Pro Tem Kathryn McCullough, and councilmen Adam Nick and Dwight Robinson. 

The city on Wednesday posted the application for a prospective council member who must be appointed—by receiving three of four possible votes—before Dec. 14. The new council member will serve out the remainder of Peter Herzog's term, which ends Dec. 31, 2014. Herzog resigned last month amid claims his colleagues had resorted to cronyism.

Such relationships will be part of the vetting process and are included among the dozen questions that applicants are asked to fill out as part of an application package. 

When the council met Tuesday, much of the discussion centered on which questions would be included, and how many, as part of that process. McCullough, with at least 15 years more experience than her three colleagues, was adamant that the questionnaire be thorough and answer all that she wanted answered. She said she didn't care how long the questionnaire was, figuring that anyone unwilling to answer the questions or put in the time was unfit for the position.

• The application package can be found here.

Each council member recently submitted questions to the City for consideration, and there was some duplication; the ultimate phrasing of the questions fell on City staff. 

Applicants have until Wednesday, Nov. 20, 6 p.m., to turn in their package—in person—to city clerk Stephanie Smith. It is expected the Council will publicly interview candidates and make a decision over the following two weeks. Failure to do so by Dec. 14 would force the City to hold a special election in April that would cost taxpayers between $166,000 and $189,000.

In addition to the dozen questions, applicants are to submit a detailed resume showing work and community involvement history, a candidate statement between 200-1,000 words on qualifications and why they want the position, and the Statement of Economic Interest Form 700. 

Registered voters of Lake Forest are eligible. The position pays $704 per month.

Here is the list of questions, broken into five parts: 

Tell us about yourself

• How long have you lived in Lake Forest?
• What percentage of elections have you voted in since you were first eligible to vote?
• Did you vote in the 2012 election?
• Is there anything in your background that would reflect poorly on the City?

Tell us about your involvement in the community

• Please indicate: a) If you are a Lake Forest Leadership Academy Graduate? b) The number of council or commission meetings you have attended the last two years, and if you attended what were the major topics of discussion you found interesting?
• Please indicate, if applicable: a) What City sponsored workshops or seminars have you attended? b) What grand openings you have attended for Lake Forest businesses?

Tell us about your relationships to current Lake Forest Council Members or Employees:

• If applicable, please describe any social or business relationships or professional affiliations with City Council Members or City employees.
• If applicable, please describe any endorsements, assistance or contributions to any campaign initiated by any member of the City Council.

Tell us about your understanding of City government:
City Council Members are elected on a non-partisan basis. What do you think it means to hold a non-partisan office?
What does the Ralph M. Brown Act mean to you?

Tell us about your vision for the City:

• What do you hope to accomplish during your time of service as a Lake Forest City Council Member?
• What prompted you to apply for office?