Two people who filed to run for local office in the June 2022 election will not be on the ballot, because they do not meet the minimum qualifications for the office they were seeking. Matt Beauchamp, candidate for District Attorney and Lori Steele, candidate for Sheriff were both removed from the June ballot today.
In a text message to YubaNet, Beauchamp stated: “While I was exploring a run for Nevada County District Attorney, I have made the decision no to do so. I am not running.” He will continue to serve as DA for Colusa County until the end of his term. Beauchamp’s message was in response to a request for comment about his voter registration status in Nevada County. The minimum qualifications to run for District Attorney, according to the Elections Office’s Candidate Handbook include the requirement to be a registered voter in the county.
Beauchamp was not registered to vote in Nevada County at the time of filing, according to the Elections Office. According to the candidate handbook, any candidate who signs the declaration of candidacy declares that they meet the qualifications for the office they seek. [source: page 15 of the June 2022 Candidate Handbook] His name will not appear on the ballot.
Lori Steele, who filed her candidacy papers to run against incumbent Sheriff Shannan Moon, sent a written acknowledgement to the Elections Office that she is not eligible for the office of county sheriff. Per correspondence from County Counsel’s Office, obtained through a Public Records Act request, her name will also be removed from the ballot. “This letter is to confirm that, based on your email to Peggy Lee, Clerk-Recorder Assistant, on March 8, 2022, and your written statement, that although you cannot by law remove your name from the ballot once you have filed your declaration of candidacy pursuant to Elections Code 8800, based on your own statement and based on Elections Code section 13.5, requiring that you must provide proof that you meet the qualifications for sheriff (see Government Code section 24004.3), which we have not received, Mr. Diaz will be removing your name from the ballot.”
The qualifications to run for County Sheriff include the following requirements per State Government Code 24004.3:
(a) No person is eligible to become a candidate for the office of sheriff in any county unless, at the time of the final filing date for election, he or she meets one of the following criteria:
(1) An active or inactive advanced certificate issued by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
(2) One year of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience within the provisions of Section 830.1 or 830.2 of the Penal Code at least a portion of which shall have been accomplished within five years prior to the date of filing, and possesses a master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
(3) Two years of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience within the provisions of Section 830.1 or 830.2 of the Penal Code at least a portion of which shall have been accomplished within five years prior to the date of filing, and possesses a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
(4) Three years of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience within the provisions of Section 830.1 or 830.2 of the Penal Code at least a portion of which shall have been accomplished within five years prior to the date of filing, and possesses an associate in arts or associate in science degree, or the equivalent, from an accredited college.
(5) Four years of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience within the provisions of Section 830.1 or 830.2 of the Penal Code at least a portion of which shall have been accomplished within five years prior to the date of filing, and possesses a high school diploma or the equivalent.
(b) All persons holding the office of sheriff on January 1, 1989 shall be deemed to have met all qualifications required for candidates seeking election or appointment to the office of sheriff.
Both incumbent Sheriff Shannan Moon and appointed incumbent DA Jesse Wilson will run unopposed.