Everyone talks about finding “work-life balance” in public service, but what if that’s the wrong goal? What if chasing balance is actually what’s burning you out? For city clerks, balance isn't just hard — it's impossible. You're the keeper of the record, the point of contact for elected officials and citizens, the organizer behind every meeting, every election, and every ordinance. You're at the crossroads of policy and people, process and pressure, and it’s not getting easier. In this bold and energizing keynote, Seth Winterhalter pulls back the curtain on the myth of balance and offers something better: a new way of thinking that frees clerks to lead with clarity, strength, and purpose, even in the chaos. If you’ve ever felt unseen, stretched thin, or asked to do everything without being recognized for anything, this keynote is for you.

Opening Remarks: Marc Donohue, First Vice President, City Clerks Department and Government Services Director/City Clerk, Eastvale

Keynote Speaker: Seth Winterhalter, HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions

The 2024 election tested the nation’s voting system with unprecedented threats, including coordinated bomb scares at polling and ballot-counting sites in at least 25 counties. Years of preparation and close coordination between election officials and law enforcement proved critical to keeping the process safe and accessible. This session will explore how these partnerships protected election integrity and the key strategies law enforcement is using to safeguard future elections. Panelists will examine strategies to safeguard the electoral process.

Moderator: LaTasha Hill, Advocacy Campaign Strategist, Brennan Center for Justice

Speakers: Tina Barton, Co-Chair, Committee for Safe and Secure Elections | Chance Walkama, Undersheriff, Laramie County | Aaron Hayman, Founder/CEO, SocialScout

City clerks and attorneys continue to navigate the increasingly outdated but legally binding world of legal publication requirements, even as the public shifts its attention from broadsheets to browser tabs. In an era when your residents are more likely to read city updates on Instagram than in a classified ad behind garage sale listings, how do you uphold legal mandates and keep the public meaningfully informed? This session covers California’s legal publication requirements, including the persistent use of “newspapers of general circulation” and the procedural minefields that follow when those newspapers go out of business or lose eligibility. You’ll leave knowing what’s legally required, what’s merely tradition, and how innovation can modernize transparency without risking compliance.

Moderator and Speaker: Stephanie Smith, Director of Election Services, Best Best & Krieger LLP

Featuring remarks from Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., California Secretary of State   
It’s that time of year again. In this session, we will share highlights from the previous legislative session and discuss new bills related to open meetings, records, and more. We will also work to identify legislative solutions to future challenges in the profession, especially as it relates to elections. Prior to the session, join us for a fireside chat with Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., California Secretary of State.

Moderator: Randi Johl, Department Director, City Clerks Department and Legislative Director/City Clerk, Temecula

Speaker: Johnnie Piña, Legislative Representative, League of California Cities

This session provides a primer on the prohibition of public resources for campaign activity and highlights the recent decision in Progressive Democrats for Social Justice v. Bonta (2023), in which the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal overturned the long established prohibition on soliciting political contributions from fellow employees.

Moderator: Candice Alvarez, Second Vice President, City Clerks Department and City Clerk, Lake Elsinore

Speaker: Aleks Giragosian, Senior Counsel, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC | Patricia Bravo-Valdez, Deputy Director of City Clerk Services, Rancho Cucamonga

Ahoy! Set sail on a comprehensive voyage into the "catch-all" exemption under the California Public Records Act. Attendees will navigate through the legal waters that form the foundation and purpose of this exemption, tackling the tough challenge of balancing the fundamental right of access to public records against the right to privacy and other public interests. Key topics will include the legal standards that serve as a compass, significant court decisions that buoy these standards, and practical examples that illuminate the journey ahead. This session will also explore complex situations relating to this exemption, such as overly burdensome requests and the ever-exotic deliberative process privilege.

Moderator: Ashton Arocho, President, City Clerks Department and City Clerk, Westminster

Facilitator: Darren Ziegler, Director of PRA Services & E-Discovery Counsel, Best Best & Krieger LLP

This session will explain what an administrative record is, its legal requirements, and the practical considerations of creating one. Discover how to create a defensible administrative record from the perspective of a local agency when it approves or denies a project. The session will include a focus on the important roles of the Public Records Act and Brown Act.

Award-winning author and leadership expert Andy Masters creatively uses the magical imagery of Hollywood to help city clerks develop and empower their organizations in a positive work culture — while defeating the current succession planning and staffing crisis. Attendees will analyze leadership challenges from popular movies and hear the latest research from Harvard Business Review, Deloitte, and Glassdoor, inspiring them to create real organizational change. This interactive session will provide attendees with immediate “take-home” action items to embrace our new workforce revolution in today’s government work environment.

Closing Remarks: Candice Alvarez, Second Vice President, City Clerks Department and City Clerk, Lake Elsinore

Keynote Speaker: Andy Masters, MA, CSP, Author/Speaker/Trainer