The Chatsworth Neighborhood Council (CNC) will gain new board members this evening.

The council is holding a Special Election beginning at 7 p.m. at its monthly meeting at Lawrence Middle School, with five candidates vying for the three open seats.

The candidates are:

• Ankur Patel
• Justin Weiss
• George Nelson Jr.
• Erik Pampalone
• Jim Van Gundy

Names were drawn from a hat to determine their order on the ballot.  They will replace three retiring board members.  The Neighborhood Council is the community's voice at City Hall and Councilman Greig Smith's office.

In an email to candidates, Judith Daniels, president of the council, urged all Chatsworth stakeholders to vote. "I encourage you to ask friends, neighbors, family members and anyone else you know to come vote. Voters do not have to stay at the meeting, although... we would welcome their participation," she said.

A stakeholder is anyone who works, lives, owns property, declares a stake in the community, or boards a horse in Chatsworth. A stakeholder does not have to be registered to vote in regular city, state or federal elections to qualify as a voter in the Special Election.

Each candidate will have three minutes to introduce himself and explain why he wishes  to join the board. A 15-minute question and answer period will follow. Voting will begin shortly after the last candidate has given his presentation and will continue for an hour.

Voters will need to fill out a new stakeholder registration form to vote, even if they've done the same for previous CNC elections. Ballots will be counted at the meeting and winners will be announced.  Successful candidates will be seated immediately.

Board members are asked to serve on one or two committees.  The land use committee is at capacity. The outreach committee, however, has lost three members due to the retirements. Other committees are: beautification, equestrian, public safety and transportation, and enhancements.

"It is possible that there will be other open seats over the next few months, so if you are not successful in this Special Election, I hope you will consider attending our meetings and participating in our activities so that more people get to know you and you get to know us better," Daniels wrote.

Retiring board members are: Allen Glazer, Varoujan Deirmenjian and Vernalie Deirmenjian.

The Chatsworth Neighborhood Council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at Lawrence Middle School, 10100 Variel Avenue. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. 

-- Tina Schrader

Chatsworth Patch