I rarely meet people who complain that they have too much extra time. Friends and neighbors are always busy with work, family and lots of other "stuff."

Somehow, the people who are the busiest seem to be the ones who find the time for one more meeting or one more activity. 

Most of the people I talk to care deeply about our community. You are concerned about public safety, transportation, development, schools, cleaning up the streets and parks. You want to know what's happening down the street. You want to know who can help get city officials to respond to your concerns. The list goes on, of course. 

The Chatsworth Neighborhood Council is your voice at City Hall and with Councilman Greig Smith. We are here to help you navigate city government. We are here to listen to your concerns about our neighborhood. 

And now, we need your help. We need you to get involved so you can help your friends and neighbors, too. 

On November 1, we will be holding our annual election for half the 21 seats on our board. This is your chance to get involved and help lead our community by running for a seat. It's also important for everyone to come to the Chatsworth Train Depot to vote. City officials watch Neighborhood Council elections to see how many people vote. The more voters, the more attention we get.  

Also, when significant numbers of people come vote, it sends a clear message to our councilman that our stakeholders -- who are also his constituents -- care about our community and expect him to be responsive to our requests. 

You are eligible to vote and to seek election if you are a Chatsworth stakeholder. Hint: if you are reading this, you qualify.

The basics are if you live, work or own property you are a stakeholder. I am proud to say that even after the city modified the definition of "stakeholder" earlier this year, we retained the stipulation that anyone who boards a horse in Chatsworth also qualifies.

We remain the only Neighborhood Council in Los Angeles that specifically includes equestrians. The city's definition of stakeholder also includes anyone who believes they have a stake in the community. 

There will be an information session for candidates at 6:30 p.m. on August 6, a half-hour before our regular board meeting at Lawrence Middle School, 10100 Variel Avenue. All seats are at-large. For questions about the election, e-mail info@chatsworthcouncil.org.  
Stakeholders can register to vote the day of the election. You have to fill out a simple, 1-page form that will be available at the poll or on our website before the election. You will not be asked for identification at the poll. There are no absentee ballots. 

This is a separate process from the registration to vote in the presidential election in November.

The Neighborhood Council election is on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chatsworth Train Depot. Binders will be available with candidate biographies. There also will be a candidates' forum as part of our regular October board meeting where you can ask questions of all candidates. 

No matter how busy you are, remember that this is a chance to help your neighborhood.  

We have committees that focus on public safety and transportation, beautification, land use, equestrians, outreach and enhancements. Every year we have $50,000 of your taxpayer dollars to spend within Chatsworth. The board votes on how to spend that money.  

All of our volunteer committees include non-board-member stakeholders as voting members. If you aren't quite ready to take the plunge as a board candidate, you can start as a stakeholder member of a committee. All committees will be reconstituted after the new board is installed.  

Check our website for more information about board meetings, committees and the election. Agendas are posted online as well as at several public locations before meetings. If you have questions or comments, send them to info@chatsworthcouncil.org.  
Please consider running for a board seat. And please take a few minutes to come vote on November 1 so all of Los Angeles knows that we care about our community. 

The only way we can make a difference for you is for more of you to get involved.