This came over the transom from the City of Anaheim earlier this evening:

CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS REPLACES MEMBERS
Councilmember Kris Murray Adds New Voices to Advisory Committee

ANAHEIM, CA – (February 28, 2013) Anaheim Councilmember Kris Murray has made two appointments to the Anaheim Citizens Advisory Committee on Elections and Community Involvement (CAC). Sandy Day and Keith Olesen, both long-time, active Anaheim residents, will be immediately seated as Committee members to replace the outgoing David Diaz and Joseph Karaki.

The appointments will take effect today and will allow Day and Olesen to participate in the committee meeting scheduled to take place tonight. Both Diaz and Karaki submitted resignations this past week due to professional scheduling conflicts.

“David Diaz and Joseph Karaki have been wonderful Committee members and I am saddened that their schedules no longer allow them to continue in that capacity,” said Councilmember Murray. “That they have given so much of their time speaks volumes of the depth of their commitment to create positive change in our community. I have the greatest respect for both gentlemen for being among the first to step forward, and I look forward to hearing their thoughts and perspectives when recommendations are made.”

With extensive resumes of service in the community, Day and Olesen are strong new voices for the Committee. Both appointees had previously submitted applications when the Committee was first announced.

“I have known both Sandy Day and Keith Olesen for many years and have been impressed by their passionate commitment to the City of Anaheim,” said Councilmember Murray. “This Committee and its recommendations are vital to moving Anaheim forward and I am pleased these two actively engaged citizens are willing to serve and contribute to its mission.”

Day, a resident of Latin American descent, is a community advocate for arts and cultural programs in the City of Anaheim. She has served on numerous boards, committees and ad-hoc groups working to advance Anaheim as a cultural center in Orange County. Day is also a past member of the Anaheim Sister City Commission, and traveled as an emissary of the City at her own expense to Mito, Japan in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami of 2011, to bring thousands of cards and condolences on behalf of the City to the leaders and residents of Mito.

Olesen, a resident and leading voice from the historic Colony District of Anaheim, was a long time chairman of the Central Neighborhood Council District and has also chaired and been active on appointed boards and committees that support and advocate for Anaheim residents, public safety, and neighborhood improvements. Mayor Tom Tait hailed Olesen as a leading example of the kindness embodied by the City’s Hi Neighbor program in his 2011 State of the City address to the community.

The Citizens Advisory Committee on Elections and Community Involvement was established by the Anaheim City Council last September to give Anaheim residents a voice in any changes that may be proposed as to how the City will be governed going forward. The Committee was charged with studying the myriad of elections systems available in the State of California, as well as methods to improve voter turn-out and civic engagement for all Anaheim residents.

In related information, a third CAC vacancy, also due to professional schedule conflicts, was announced by Committee member Peter Argawal. That vacancy will be discussed at a future City Council meeting.

To learn more about the CAC, including meeting dates, video of past meetings and more, please visit www.anaheim.net/CACElections.