Lafayette residents interested in running for City Council have until Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 4 p.m. to file nomination papers after an incumbent did not meet the original Friday, Aug. 7, deadline.

The City of Lafayette announced the extension on Monday, Aug. 10, on its official X account, stating the nomination period for "a seat" on the council has been extended through Wednesday.

Under California Elections Code §10225, when an incumbent fails to file by the original deadline, the filing window automatically extends five calendar days for new candidates. The incumbent who missed the deadline is barred from filing during the extension period. Candidates who already filed nomination papers for the affected seat may withdraw them until the extended deadline closes.

Three council members had terms expiring this year: Susan Candell, Jim Cervantes and Stella Wotherspoon. A Contra Costa News candidate list published Friday, Aug. 7, showed Cervantes and Wotherspoon as qualified filers, but Candell was absent from the list. An earlier version of that list, published Aug. 3, had noted Cervantes and Wotherspoon as incumbents who "will seek re-election," while Candell was listed only as "Incumbent" without that notation.

The city has not publicly named which incumbent triggered the extension, and the Contra Costa County Elections Division has not confirmed the identity.

As we reported in July, all three full-term seats opened for the Nov. 3 election when the nomination period began July 13. A separate short-term council seat is also on the November ballot. Mario DiPrisco qualified for that race by the Friday, Aug. 7, deadline, according to the Contra Costa News list, and that seat does not appear subject to the extension.

The extension means any Lafayette resident who meets eligibility requirements can pull papers for the affected full-term seat through Wednesday afternoon. Nomination documents are available through the Contra Costa County Elections Division at contracostavote.gov, which administers candidate filing for Lafayette.

The county Elections Division will publish a certified candidate list after the Aug. 12 deadline closes.