elections Paperwork is coming due for candidates to appear on the ballot for March 8 city council elections in Norwalk and Paramount, but fields in the races have already begun to expand.

According to state law, the regular filing deadline is Friday, unless an incumbent does not run, in which case the deadline is extended to Wednesday for challengers only. For example, Norwalk must extend the deadline until Wednesday because the incumbent, Mayor Gordon Stefenhagen, has said he is not running for re-election.

Meanwhile, although Bellflower’s race will be jammed with the same old faces—council members Randy Bomgaars and Ray Smith and Mayor Raymond Dunton are all running again—the filing deadline has been extended until Monday because Bellflower City Hall is closed Friday.

Seven people have filed to run in Norwalk, two in Bellflower—including planning commissioner Sonny Santa Ines—and four in Paramount.

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY IN THE HERALD AMERICAN