Open House of elections operations center -- Thursday the 23rd

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                  
October 21, 2008                                                                                CONTACT:        Marcia Ventura (562) 462-2726 or                                                                                                                        Eileen Shea      (562) 462-2648

                                               

L.A. COUNTY REGISTRAR-RECORDER/COUNTY CLERK TO HOLD

 OPEN HOUSE AND DEDICATION CEREMONY

Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) Dean Logan announced that on Thursday, October 23, 2008, the RR/CC is hosting an Open House and Dedication Ceremony at its Election Operations Center (EOC) located at 12680 Corral Place, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. (map included with this press release).

Dean Logan will provide welcoming remarks and provide an opening statement, followed by remarks from Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina and Board Chair Yvonne B. Burke, CEO William Fujioka, Laura Zucker, Executive Director of the L.A. County Arts Commission, artist Rebeca Méndez, and Michael Lehrer of Lehrer Architects.  Invited guests include election officials from neighboring counties, L.A. County Department Heads, L.A. County City Clerks, news media and interested members of the public.  All are welcome to attend the event and to view the unveiling of original artwork by Rebeca Méndez.

In coordination with the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, artist Rebeca Méndez was selected to create the original artwork that is to be permanently displayed at the EOC.  A committee comprised of representatives from the Arts Commission, RR/CC, Lehrer Architects and Olson Visual formed the inspiration for the conceptual design of the artwork and “expressed a desire for the artwork to convey the diversity of the County, and honor the vital work done by the operation center”.  

In July 2006, the RR/CC acquired the 100,000 square foot warehouse and service center now known as the EOC.  The EOC replaced the 44,000 square foot service center in Montebello that has housed election materials, supplies, and equipment for 20 years.  In 2007, the move to the EOC was completed.  Presently, the EOC is also home and testing site for 9,800 InkaVote Plus Precinct Ballot Readers and Audio Ballot Booths used in all L.A. County conducted elections.  Logan said, “Since fall 2006, the RR/CC has delayed orchestrating a formal open house until now to enable employees to adapt to the new environment amid an unrelenting schedule of statewide and other elections.  This much-anticipated event comes at a time when operations at the EOC are full throttle with preparing supplies and equipment for use at 4,394 polling places in the upcoming November 4, 2008 Presidential General Election.”  

Informational tours of the EOC will be available after the Ceremony.  The intent of the tours is to provide insight into the RR/CC as they prepare for a major statewide election.

After the Open House and Dedication Ceremony and following the closing remarks by Dean Logan, there will be a short reception in the EOC lunchroom. 

Persons requiring multilingual assistance in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino or Vietnamese regarding information in this press release, can call (800) 481-8683.

# # # #