Eddie Lopez

Imperial County Free Library services will be paused for inventory from Monday, August 3, through Friday, August 14, 2026.

Regular library services will resume on Monday, August 17, 2026.

During this period, library locations will remain open only as Cooling and Hydration Centers.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

El Centro, CA – Imperial County Registrar of Voters Linsey Dale reminds prospective candidates that the nomination period for local offices appearing on the November 3, 2026 General Election ballot will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2026.

If an incumbent officeholder does not file nomination documents by the August 7th deadline, the nomination period for that office will be extended until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, for all eligible candidates except the incumbent.

Voters throughout Imperial County will elect representatives to numerous local offices, including:

Imperial County Board of Education – Areas I and II
Imperial Community College District – Areas 2, 5, and 7
Calexico Unified School District
Calipatria Unified School District
Coachella Valley Unified School District – Areas 1 and 2
Holtville Unified School DistrictImperial Unified School District
San Pasqual Valley Unified School District
Brawley Union High School District
Central Union High School District
Brawley Elementary School District
El Centro Elementary School District
Heber Elementary School District
Magnolia Union Elementary School District
McCabe Union Elementary School District
Meadows Union Elementary School District
Mulberry Union Elementary School District
Seeley Union Elementary School District
Westmorland Union Elementary School District
Bombay Beach Community Services District
Coachella Valley Water District – Division 5
Heber Public Utility District
Imperial Valley Healthcare District – Districts 1, 2, 3, and 7
Palo Verde County Water District
Salton Community Services District
Seeley County Water District
Winterhaven Water District
City Council offices in the Cities of Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, and WestmorlandCity Clerk for the City of Imperial

Several jurisdictions have offices with both four-year and two-year terms. A complete list of offices, terms, and filing requirements is available from the Imperial County Registrar of Voters.

Candidates for county, school, and special district offices may obtain and file nomination documents at the Imperial County Registrar of Voters Office located at 940 West Main Street, Suite 206 in El Centro. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Candidates seeking elective office in the Cities of Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, or Westmorland should contact their respective City Clerk’s Office for filing procedures and deadlines.

For additional information regarding candidate filing or the November 3, 2026 General Election, contact the Imperial County Registrar of Voters at (442) 265-1060 or visit www.Elections.ImperialCounty.org.

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Community members who are considering running for public office are invited to attend a free Candidate Training Workshop on Monday, August 3, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Ag Center, located at 485 Business Parkway in Imperial.

The workshop is being presented by the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business of Imperial County (COLAB), in partnership with the Imperial County Registrar of Voters. The event is intended to provide prospective candidates with an overview of the election process and the requirements associated with seeking public office at the school district, city or county level.

Topics will include:

• Candidate eligibility, filing requirements and nomination documents
• Important election dates and deadlines
• Campaign finance and reporting requirements
• Fundraising, recordkeeping and campaign planning
• Voter outreach and building a campaign team
• Transitioning from candidate to elected official

Imperial County Registrar of Voters Linsey Dale will provide information regarding candidate filing requirements and the steps necessary to qualify for placement on the ballot. Adriana Murillo Kirby of Kirby Business Solutions will discuss campaign finance, reporting requirements and common financial mistakes candidates should avoid.

Imperial County District 2 Supervisor Martha Cardenas-Singh will also participate as an invited speaker, sharing her firsthand experience from the campaign trail, including deciding to seek public office, developing a campaign strategy, fundraising, reaching voters and transitioning into the role of an elected official.

The workshop is free to attend, but advance registration is encouraged because space is limited. Refreshments will be provided.

To register or request additional information, contact Shelby Trimm at shelby@colabimperial.com.

“Parenting can be complicated. Support can be simpler.”

El Centro, CA — The Imperial County Department of Child Support Services (ICDCSS) is proud to recognize August as Child Support Awareness Month, joining California and communities across the nation in highlighting the vital role child support plays in strengthening families.

Parenting comes with many responsibilities and challenges, but accessing child support services shouldn’t be one of them. This year’s Child Support Awareness Month theme, “Parenting can be complicated. Support can be simpler,” reflects ICDCSS’s commitment to making services easier to access, easier to understand, and more responsive to the needs of today’s families.

To celebrate Child Support Awareness Month and connect with families throughout Imperial County, ICDCSS will host “Child Support on Wheels,” a series of community outreach events where staff will be available to answer child support case questions, provide general information about services, and assist the public. No appointment is necessary.

Child Support on Wheels Schedule:

Camarena Memorial Library
850 Encinas Ave. • Calexico, CA 92231
(Thursday, August 6, 13, 20, and 27)
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Imperial County Probation Department – Iran Martinez Probation Services Building (Day Reporting Center)
324 Applestille Road • El Centro, CA 92243
(Thursday, August 6, 13, 20, and 27)
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m

Holtville City Library
101 E. 6th Street. • Holtville, CA 92250
(Tuesday, August 18 & 25)
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Consulate of Mexico in Calexico
408 Heber Ave. • Calexico, CA 92231
(Friday, August 14 & 28)
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

ICDCSS encourages parents, guardians, and community members to take advantage of these convenient outreach opportunities to learn more about available child support services and receive assistance close to home.

For more information about Child Support Awareness Month or the services provided by the Imperial County Department of Child Support Services, please contact ICDCSS at (866) 901-3212 or visit the office at 2795 South 4th Street, El Centro, CA 92243.

El Centro, CA —The Imperial County Department of Social Services recently welcomed externs from the Imperial County Superior Court to the Betty Jo McNeece Receiving Home for an educational tour focused on the services and partnerships that support vulnerable children and youth throughout the county. Assistant Presiding Judge D., who currently presides over juvenile court proceedings, joined the visit and provided opening remarks to the externs. His remarks emphasized the importance of collaboration among the Court, County departments and community partners in serving youth and families. During the tour, externs received a firsthand look at how the Betty Jo McNeece Receiving Home provides a safe, stable and supportive environment for children and youth who need emergency placement during times of crisis. Staff explained that the Receiving Home’s work extends beyond temporary shelter. Each youth’s immediate needs are evaluated and addressed, including safety, medical care, education, behavioral health, recreation, religious services and other supportive resources that promote stability and overall well-being while longer-term placement plans are developed. “The visit provided an important opportunity for the externs to better understand the connection between the Court and the services provided at the Betty Jo McNeece Receiving Home,” said Paula S. Llanas, Director of the Imperial County Department of Social Services. “Our role is to provide a safe and nurturing environment where each youth’s immediate needs are met and they have access to the resources necessary to help stabilize them during a difficult transition.” Externs also met with members of the Imperial County Behavioral Health Services Positive Engagement Team, known as PET. The team discussed its innovative work with trained animal handlers and dogs to provide positive interventions and help reduce the stigma associated with mental health services. Throughout the visit, externs asked questions about the intake process, daily programming and the coordinated efforts of the Court, Behavioral Health Services, Child Welfare Services, law enforcement, education partners, the PET team and Receiving Home staff. These discussions demonstrated the multidisciplinary approach required to provide individualized care and support to every child, whether they are arriving at the Receiving Home for the first time or returning for an additional stay. Opportunities such as this strengthen the partnership between the Superior Court and the County while providing future legal and public-service professionals with a broader understanding of the dependency system and the work that takes place beyond the courtroom. Imperial County is one of the communities that benefits from having an emergency shelter home available to support children and youth. By seeing the facility and meeting the professionals involved in its daily operations, externs gained a deeper understanding of how judicial decisions, social services and community partnerships work together to promote the safety, well-being and long-term success of children and families. The County is proud to partner with the Imperial County Superior Court in creating educational experiences that encourage collaboration, shared responsibility and a greater understanding of the network of professionals dedicated to serving local youth. The County also appreciates the Court’s commitment to preparing the next generation of legal and public-service professionals and looks forward to continuing this important partnership.

El Centro, CA — Imperial County departments recently coordinated assistance for residents of Lark Spa Mobile Home & RV Park near Niland who were affected by an extended electrical disruption associated with unsafe and unpermitted electrical work at the property.

On July 9, 2026, the Imperial County Planning & Development Services Department inspected the property after receiving a complaint regarding electrical wiring located on the ground and within an open trench. An Attention–Action Required Notice was issued directing the park operator to stop the unpermitted work, de-energize the affected electrical line and obtain the required permit before completing the repairs.

The notice addressed the unsafe electrical installation. The County did not direct the operator to disconnect electrical service throughout the entire park.

On July 17, the Imperial County Executive Office was contacted by United for Justice Inc. and informed that residents had been experiencing an extended loss of electricity. County leadership immediately began coordinating a response among the Department of Social Services, Planning & Development Services, Fire Department and Office of Emergency Services, Behavioral Health Services, Public Administrator/Area Agency on Aging, and Workforce and Economic Development.

The Department of Social Services redirected two employees to the park that afternoon to assess conditions and speak directly with affected residents. Staff determined that 27 of the park’s 77 spaces had been affected. Most residents had temporarily relocated with relatives or to hotels, while nine residents remained at the park and were staying in its air-conditioned community room.

County departments provided or coordinated the following assistance:

• Delivered 20 cots to residents remaining at the property.
• Assessed residents for CalFresh, Medi-Cal and other available public-benefit programs.
• Activated prepared-meal assistance for eligible CalFresh recipients.
• Coordinated follow-up through Behavioral Health Services and Adult Protective Services.
• Evaluated residents for available housing, transportation, healthcare and supportive services.
• Contacted the Imperial Irrigation District, which confirmed that the disruption involved customer-owned electrical infrastructure and was not an IID system outage.

“Once the County Executive Office was notified that residents were without electricity, departments mobilized that same day to assess conditions and connect residents with available assistance,” said Imperial County Executive Officer Kathleen Lang. “We appreciate the employees who responded quickly and worked across departments to support the affected residents.”

The property owner or operator was responsible for hiring a qualified contractor, obtaining the required permits and completing the electrical repairs necessary to bring the property into compliance.

Imperial County Free Libraries will be closed to the public from Monday, August 3 through Friday, August 14 while staff complete annual inventory. All library locations will reopen on Monday, August 17.

Before the temporary closure, patrons are encouraged to return overdue library materials during the Fine Forgiveness Period, taking place Monday, July 20 through Friday, July 31. Fines associated with returned overdue books will be waived, and fees for damaged returned items may also be forgiven when the total does not exceed $25. The program does not apply to previously assessed fines or lost books.

For more information, visit library.imperialcounty.org or email imperialcountylibrary@co.imperial.ca.us.

El Centro, CA – Imperial County Registrar of Voters Linsey Dale announced that the candidate filing period is now open for local offices that will appear on the ballot for the November 3, 2026 California Statewide General Election.

Individuals interested in serving their communities through elected office may obtain nomination documents beginning Monday, July 13, 2026. Candidate filing closes at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2026.

If an incumbent officeholder does not file by the August 7, 2026 deadline, the nomination period for that office will be extended until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, for all eligible candidates other than the incumbent.

Voters will elect representatives for numerous local jurisdictions throughout Imperial County, including:

• Imperial County Board of Education – Areas I and II
• Imperial Community College District – Areas 2, 5 and 7
• Calexico Unified School District
• Calipatria Unified School District
• Coachella Valley Unified School District – Areas 1 and 2
• Holtville Unified School District
• Imperial Unified School District
• San Pasqual Valley Unified School District
• Brawley Union High School District
• Central Union High School District
• Brawley Elementary School District
• El Centro Elementary School District
• Heber Elementary School District
• Magnolia Union Elementary School District
• McCabe Union Elementary School District
• Meadows Union Elementary School District
• Mulberry Union Elementary School District
• Seeley Union Elementary School District
• Westmorland Union Elementary School District
• Bombay Beach Community Services District
• Coachella Valley Water District – District 5
• Heber Public Utility District
• Imperial Valley Healthcare District – Districts 1, 2, 3 and 7
• Palo Verde County Water District
• Salton Community Services District
• Seeley County Water District
• Winterhaven Water District
• City Council seats in Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, and Westmorland
• City Clerk for the City of Imperial

Several jurisdictions include offices with both four-year and two-year terms. A complete list of offices and terms is available from the Imperial County Registrar of Voters.

Candidates must meet the qualifications established under the principal act governing their respective district or jurisdiction, including being a registered voter residing within the district or applicable division they seek to represent.

Candidates for school, county, and special district offices may obtain and file nomination documents at the Imperial County Registrar of Voters located at 940 W. Main Street, Suite 206, El Centro. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Candidates seeking office in the cities of Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, and Westmorland should contact their respective city clerk’s office for filing procedures and deadlines.

For additional information regarding candidate filing or the November 3, 2026 General Election, contact the Imperial County Registrar of Voters Office at (442) 265-1060 or visit the Registrar of Voters website at www.Elections.ImperialCounty.org.

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