Escondido is a general law city governed by a five-member City Council. A Mayor and four (4) members of the City Council, along with the City Treasurer, are directly elected at large for a four-year term. A municipal election is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years. The Mayor is the presiding officer of the City Council, Community Development Commission, Mobilehome Rent Review Board, and Escondido Joint Powers Financing Authority.

The City Clerk serves as the election officer and is responsible for issuance and acceptance of nomination papers, City measures, and the publication of necessary legal notices. In addition, all campaign and conflict of interest filings required by the Fair Political Practices Commission are maintained in the City Clerk's office.

In order to qualify as a candidate for Mayor, a member of the City Council or City Treasurer, an individual must be a registered voter and a resident of the city of Escondido. Nomination papers must contain the signatures of at least twenty (20) registered voters from the jurisdiction and must be filed with the City Clerk's office no later than the close of the nomination period. If any incumbent does not file nomination papers within the filing period, the filing period will be extended by an additional five (5) calendar days to anyone interested, except the incumbent, in filing for that office.

Escondido's most recent General Municipal Election was held November 7, 2006. Lori Holt Pfeiler was re-elected as Mayor; Marie Waldron and Dick Daniels were elected as Council Members. Their terms will expire in November 2010. Escondido's next General Municipal Election will be held November 4, 2008. Terms of Council Members Ed Gallo and Sam Abed will expire in November 2008.

City Treasurer Ken Hugins was re-elected in the November 2, 2004 election. His term will expire in November 2008.

Election information is available on the Registrar of Voters (www.sdvote.com) and Secretary of State (www.ss.ca.gov) Web sites.

For additional information concerning Escondido elections, please contact the City Clerk's office at (760) 839-4617.