POWAY: Councilwoman Merrilee Boyack has announced her bid for re-election to a second four-year term by posting a video on YouTube.

“This is the first time anyone has done a virtual announcement for political office in Poway,” said Boyack, 50.

“The city's polling showed that over two-thirds of the residents . . . use the Internet for gaining information about the city, so I thought it would be a great idea to use the Internet to announce my campaign.”

A link to Boyack's video can be found on her Web site at voteboyack.com.

The window for candidates to take out nomination papers for one of two open council seats this November is from now until Aug. 8.

Councilman Bob Emery has announced that he is retiring after serving on the council for all 28 years of Poway's existence as a city. The top two vote-getters in the November election will fill the positions.

For information about running, contact City Clerk Salam Hasenin at (858) 668-4535. –J.H.J.