CMCA AUGUST 2026
|
VOLUME 28 ISSUE 8
PARTNER HIGHLIGHT: ESCRIBE
YOU DON’T HAVE TO CLERK ALONE: MAKING CMCA MEMBERSHIP WORK FOR YOU
WE SURVIVED THE NOMINATION PERIOD!
SCHOLARSHIPS & FUNDRAISING UPDATE
DEMOCRACY IS BUILT IN THE DETAILS
SHOP CMCA’S MERCH STORES!
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS! CMCA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: KEY BILLS ENTER THE FINAL WEEKS OF THE 2026 SESSION
P resident ’ s M essage
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE CMCA AUGUST 2026 VOLUME 28 ISSUE 8
SUZANNE GUZZETTA, MMC | CMCA PRESIDENT Wow, I can’t believe it’s August already. Where does the time go?
Maybe the answer isn’t to keep giving the list more of my time. It could be that I need to be a little more willing to lean on the people around me. Sometimes, that’s as simple as asking another clerk. I’m fortunate to have an email group with my fellow city clerks in Santa Clara County where we regularly bounce questions off one another and share information. Just last week, one of our clerks asked about endorsements in candidate statements. Not more than two days later, I was dealing with a similar situation. I didn’t have to start from scratch because we’d already put our heads together to share our experiences and knowledge.
For those of us conducting SUZANNE GUZZET TA elections, you may already be done with your nomination period, or, as in my case, you’re now working on an extension nomination period. Lately, I feel like I’ve been burning the candle at both ends. It feels like there’s never enough time to get everything done, my to-do list is a mile long, and it never seems to get shorter. Normally, I’m pretty good at setting boundaries between work and “me” time. But lately, I can’t shake that feeling that there’s something I should be doing. It follows me home and occasionally wakes me up in the middle of the night to remind me of something I forgot to do.
Working smarter sometimes simply means asking, “Have you dealt with this before?” Someone may have a sample, know where to point you, or be able to share a lesson they learned the hard way so you don’t have to. Think about the resources you already have. Your mentor - many of us are long past working toward our certifications, but our mentors are still there and, I’m willing to bet, still happy to help. The clerks you’ve met at conferences or other events. Your local network. Someone in that network may just happen to be an expert on the issue sitting on your desk. Tap into it. Ask the question. Ask for the sample. There’s no prize for figuring everything out by yourself.
With an election in November, deadlines colliding with summer vacation plans (if you even get a vacation!), and meetings and projects that still need to get done (preferably yesterday), it’s no wonder that I’m feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day. I’m fighting my natural tendency to keep my head down, keep working, and keep working later. Answer another email, take another thing home, and keep chipping away at my list. But I may never get to the bottom of that list. There will always be another email, another deadline, another project waiting for my attention. The truth is that the more time we give to our work, the more our work seems to find a way to fill it. There’s actually a name for that: Parkinson’s Law, the idea that work expands to fill the time available for its completion.
So, if your to-do list is looking anything like mine this August, give yourself a little grace. Be protective of your time. Lean on your clerk community. And, when you have the opportunity, be that resource for someone else. The list will still be there tomorrow. We don’t have to give it every hour we have today.
2
P artner H ighlight : e S cribe
PARTNER HIGHLIGHT: ESCRIBE BRITT AVRIT, MMC | 1ST VICE PRESIDENT
B R I T T AV R I T
One of the focus areas of the 1st Vice President is working with our Partners and Sponsors, and this year, I want to help our members get to know our Partners and Sponsors better. We may know their products; I wanted to get to know their company and the people we’re partnering with a little more. Sure, we can visit their website to learn about their product or reach out to our colleagues to get more details about how their system compares to those we’re using. What I wanted to learn was more about their company because the relationships we build are also important.
O N E O F C M C A’S PA RT N E R S T H I S Y E A R I S E S C R I B E .
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Taylor Jacey, Senior Demand Generation Manager. Taylor came to eScribe in November 2025 and says one of the things that drew her to eScribe is their customer service. She recognizes issues with technology arise no matter the product and said, “it’s how you handle them that matters.” How many of us can relate to that?! She understands that the phone call may come from us at 6pm on a Thursday because that is when we may need them the most. When she came to the eScribe team, she learned the CMCA Conference was a favorite to attend because it’s where you could hear what everyone in California was talking about, calling them “cutting edge” conversations. Our Annual Conference is known for being an event where we can learn from each other, network and make great connections! Taylor and I also discussed how CMCA’s purpose intersects with eScribe. When you think about it, what she said is very true: “what is the purpose of a meeting and agenda management platform? It’s allowing you to build that trust and build that connection with the community. They (the community) know where they can get the information.” She sees eScribe’s products as just one of the many tools clerks can use to build trust and connection to engage and connect with our communities. When I asked Taylor what she wanted Municipal Clerks to know about eScribe, she wants us to make things easier on ourselves and know that eScribe is there for us. She said, “eScribe is here for the long haul.” To learn more about all CMCA’s Partners, visit our Annual Partner page on the website.
3
CMCA AUGUST 2026 VOLUME 28 ISSUE 8
W e S urvived the N omination P eriod !
CMCA AUGUST 2026 VOLUME 28 ISSUE 8
WE SURVIVED THE NOMINATION PERIOD! JENNIFER WOODWORTH, MMC | DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT One thing we as clerks always enjoy is coming together to support each other. Clerks from Santa Clara County (and beyond) gathered on August 7 to celebrate the end of the candidate nomination period. We chose to ignore the fact that almost everyone there had to extend to E-83! Dinner provided everyone with a welcome opportunity to step away from nomination papers and election codes and spend time with friends old and new who truly understand JENNIFER WOODWORTH and commiserate on the challenges of election season. We shared stories and lots of laughs about memorable candidates, unexpected questions, and lessons learned that are unique and yet familiar to municipal clerks everywhere. Most importantly, gatherings like these remind us of the value of learning from each other. No two nomination periods are exactly alike, and each clerk brings different experiences and creative solutions to the conversation. It was also a reminder that while we may work in different cities and counties, we don’t face these challenges alone. There is something comforting about sitting with a group of people who understand exactly why the words “nomination period” inspire both pride and exhaustion. T O C L E R KS A L L O V E R C A L I F O R N I A , W E S U RV I V E D T H E N OM I N AT I O N P E R I O D . C H E E RS T O U S !
CMCA would love to spotlight this type of networking all over the state. If you meet up with your fellow clerks, please reach out to Jen Woodworth, Professional Development Director at pdd@calcerks.org to send a picture and a few words about your latest Clerk Gathering. You could be featured in an upcoming issue of California Clerks Connection!
4
D emocracy I s B uilt in the D etails
DEMOCRACY IS BUILT IN THE DETAILS THAI NAM PHAM, MMC, CPMC | 2ND VICE PRESIDENT
THAI NAM PHAM
With this year’s nomination period now closed, many city clerk offices can finally take a brief breath. To the public, this milestone may appear
Although municipal elections are local in scale, they are part of our nation’s larger democratic infrastructure. Democracy at the state and national levels is built upon thousands of credible local processes. When residents can trust the administration of an election in their own community, that trust becomes part of the broader civic fabric. This nomination period also reminded me that democracy is a team effort. For one member of our administrative team, this was his first nomination period, and his enthusiasm brought fresh energy to the process. Our intern spent hours assembling candidate guidebooks, filing documents, and organizing election records.
straightforward: candidates filed their papers, names will be placed on the ballot, and campaigns can begin. City clerks know there is much more behind that apparent simplicity. We often joke that city clerks live “in the weeds.” In elections, however, the weeds are where fairness lives.
Those assignments might appear to be small, behind-the-scenes tasks, but they were anything but incidental. A carefully assembled guidebook ensures that every prospective candidate begins with the same roadmap. An accurately filed document protects transparency and the public record. An organized workspace allows election officials to respond consistently and efficiently as deadlines approach.
Every candidate must receive the same information, be evaluated under the same legal standards, and meet the same deadlines. Nomination papers must be issued, received, and processed correctly. Required forms must be reviewed. Candidate statements must be counted and proofread. Ballot designations must be evaluated, public notices must be published, records must be preserved, and questions must be answered without favoring one candidate over another.
Perhaps that is one of the most important lessons we can pass along to those entering our profession: no task is too small when it supports public trust. Democracy is not sustained only at the ballot box. It is sustained through every checklist completed, deadline honored, form reviewed, notice published, and record preserved.
None of these responsibilities may seem glamorous on their own. Together, they create a fair playing field that candidates, voters, and the public can trust.
Much of our work may remain invisible when it is done well. Yet that quiet, exacting work is the backbone that keeps democracy moving. As city clerks, we are stewards of a fair process, and through that process, we help create the conditions in which democracy can flourish in every community we serve.
City clerks do not decide who should run, how candidates should campaign, or who should win. Our role is more foundational. We build and safeguard the process that allows voters to make their choices freely, candidates to compete fairly, and election results to command public confidence.
5
CMCA AUGUST 2026 VOLUME 28 ISSUE 8
C M C A L egislative U pdate : K ey B ills E nter the F inal W eeks of the 2 02 6 S ession
CMCA AUGUST 2026 VOLUME 28 ISSUE 8
CMCA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: KEY BILLS ENTER THE FINAL WEEKS OF THE 2026 SESSION KERRY BIGELOW, MMC | DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS The 2025–2026 legislative session is nearing its conclusion. At the time of this article’s publication, final action has not yet been completed on several bills CMCA is tracking. The Legislature has until August 31 to pass bills, after which approved measures will move to the Governor for consideration.
KERRY BIGELOW
CMCA will continue monitoring priority legislation and sharing updates through the live Bill Tracking spreadsheet, e-blasts, and resources available on the Legislative Hub. C M C A M E M B E R L E G I S L AT I V E U P DAT E
On July 29, CMCA’s Legislative Committee and California Public Policy Group hosted a members-only legislative update, with 184 members participating live. The workshop covered key measures affecting municipal clerks, including SB 1187, the SB 707 Brown Act follow-up bill; AB 1821, CMCA’s supported bill addressing Public Records Act response timelines; SB 1164, the California Voting Rights Act of 2026; and other closely watched legislation. Thank you to everyone who participated and submitted questions.
6
C M C A L egislative U pdate : K ey B ills E nter the F inal W eeks of the 2 02 6 S ession
N OV E M B E R 202 6 S TAT E W I D E B A L LO T M E AS U R E S
CMCA also recently distributed an e-blast announcing a new CPPG Summary of the November 2026 Statewide Ballot Measures, now available on the Legislative Hub. The memo provides an overview of all 14 statewide propositions and highlights potential implementation issues for local agencies. Measures of particular interest to clerks and local governments include Proposition 39, Proposition 43, and Proposition 4. U P C OM I N G C M C A L E G I S L AT I V E P R O G R A M S
Your Voice in Legislative Advocacy: Member Input Session October 1, 2026 | 2:00 PM Fee: Free for CMCA Members Register Here CMCA members are invited to a free, members-only session to review CMCA’s 2027 Legislative Platform and provide input on priorities for the year ahead. I’ll be joined by CMCA lobbyist Ethan Nagler of California Public Policy Group for this interactive discussion. Strengthening the Clerk’s Role in Public Policy: Understanding Legislation, Lobbying & Legal Research October 21, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM Fee: $125 Member | $225 Non-Member Pending approval for 1.1 CMC/MMC Points Register Here This practical workshop will cover how legislation moves through the process, how CMCA’s advocacy program works, and how to track and evaluate bills. The session will be presented by experienced lobbyist Daniel Carrigg of Daniel Carrigg Consulting. LO O K I N G A H E A D
September will bring final bill outcomes and Governor action, along with implementation analysis and preparation for the next legislative year. CMCA will continue keeping members informed and providing opportunities to help shape our 2027 advocacy priorities.
7
CMCA AUGUST 2026 VOLUME 28 ISSUE 8
Y ou D on ’ t H ave to C lerk A lone : M aking C M C A M embership W ork for Y ou
CMCA AUGUST 2026 VOLUME 28 ISSUE 8
YOU DON’T HAVE TO CLERK ALONE: MAKING CMCA MEMBERSHIP WORK FOR YOU DOMINIQUE DAVIS, MPA | DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES Municipal clerks are entrusted with work that sits at the heart of local government. We safeguard public records, support transparent decision-making, administer elections, coordinate legislative processes, and help our organizations navigate complex—and sometimes politically sensitive—issues. We are expected to know the answer, find the answer, or know exactly whom to call. DOMINIQUE DAVIS
Yet, for a profession built around connection and public service, the work can sometimes feel remarkably solitary.
That is why the California Municipal Clerks Association matters. CMCA is more than a professional affiliation or an annual conference. It is a statewide network of colleagues who understand the responsibilities, pressures, and unexpected challenges that come with serving as a municipal clerk. Membership provides tangible benefits, including discounted registration for the CMCA Annual Conference, Municipal Clerks Institute trainings, Nuts & Bolts workshops, Athenian Dialogues, and regional educational offerings. Members also have access to scholarships, the CMCA Mentorship Program, the updated City Clerk Handbook, networking events, volunteer opportunities, committee service, and the ability to vote in CMCA elections and serve on the Board of Directors. But the true value of membership is realized through participation. Attend a regional training and introduce yourself to someone new. Apply for a scholarship instead of assuming you will not receive it. Join the Mentorship Program—whether you need guidance or have wisdom to share. Volunteer for a committee, attend a networking event, or reach out to a fellow clerk when you encounter an unfamiliar issue. The template, perspective, or encouragement you need may be one conversation away. Just as importantly, allow other clerks to learn from you. You do not need decades of experience or an advanced certification to contribute. Every member brings knowledge shaped by their agency, community, career path, and lived experience. A process that feels routine to you may be the solution another clerk has been searching for. CMCA’s mission is to promote the municipal clerk profession through education, support, and communication. Membership sustains that mission, but engagement brings it to life. The more we share, participate, and build relationships, the stronger our professional community becomes. You do not have to clerk alone—and you were never meant to. As Director of Member Services, I want to hear from you: How do you make your CMCA membership work for you? What programs, resources, connections, or benefits would you like CMCA to offer in the future? Please share your ideas with us and help shape the next chapter of the CMCA member experience. 8
S cholarships & F undraising U pdate
SCHOLARSHIPS & FUNDRAISING UPDATE SYLVIA M. BERMUDEZ, MPA, MMC | DIRECTOR OF SCHOLARSHIPS & FUNDRAISING S C H O L A R S H I P A WA R D S
For fiscal year 2025–2026, the Scholarship Committee received 174 applications and awarded 81 scholarships, totaling $34,350, to support members pursuing professional development and certification. These awards help offset eligible costs associated with continuing education, training, and advancement within the municipal clerk profession. SYLVIA M. BERMUDEZ
•
59 CMC scholarships were awarded, totaling $25,150.
•
22 MMC scholarships were awarded, totaling $9,200.
Together, these awards reflect the Committee’s continued commitment to supporting members at varying stages of their certification journey. C U R R E N T S C H O L A R S H I P O P P O RT U N I T I E S
Members interested in applying for a scholarship during the current fiscal year are encouraged to visit the CMCA scholarship page for full eligibility requirements, approved scholarship categories, application instructions, reimbursement requirements, and submission deadlines. Members should review the guidelines carefully before applying to ensure all required documentation is submitted in a timely and accurate manner. The Scholarship Committee encourages members to take advantage of these opportunities and remains committed to maintaining a transparent, equitable process that expands access, supports professional growth, and strengthens participation in certification and continuing education programs. For additional details, please contact the director of scholarships and fundraising at scholarship@calclerks.org
9
CMCA AUGUST 2026 VOLUME 28 ISSUE 8
S hop C M C A ’ s M erch S tores !
CMCA AUGUST 2026 VOLUME 28 ISSUE 8
Connect, Commit , and Empower SHOP CMCA’S MERCH STORES!
CMCA now has two merchandise stores where you can purchase branded clothing, bags, and more! These items go beyond style—they’re a way to connect with fellow clerks, show your commitment to our profession, and strengthen the network that supports and uplifts us all. Whether you’re at a conference, in the office, or out in the community, wearing CMCA gear is a simple yet powerful way to empower yourself and others by sparking conversations about the essential work we do. HOW TO FIND THEM
Visit the CMCA website, go to the Resources tab, and select either the CMCA Apparel Store or the CMCA Bonfire Store. Then click, shop, and share your connection to the California Municipal Clerk community!
APPAREL STORE BONFIRE STORE
10
T H A N K Y O U T O O U R PA R T N E R S !
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS! CMCA AUGUST 2026 VOLUME 28 ISSUE 8
Complete Paperless Solutions
11