Election 2002: Filing period opens for fall elections Election 2002: Filing period opens for fall elections (July 17, 2002)

Voters will decide who fills key posts on local city councils, school boards and special districts in the November 5 election. The filing period for candidates opened July 15 and ends August 9.
Menlo Park

Terms of three of the five members of the Menlo Park City Council will expire in November. Incumbents Steve Schmidt, Mary Jo Borak and Nicholas Jellins are eligible to run again, if they choose.

Planning Commissioner Bill Halleck, Councilman Nicholas Jellins and political newcomer Michael Meyer, a Linfield Oaks resident, have already told the Almanac they intend to run.

Menlo Park candidates must be residents of the city, as well as registered voters, said City Clerk Susan Ramos. For a copy of the necessary nomination papers, including a petition to be signed by 20 Menlo Park voters and a form disclosing economic interests, call Ms. Ramos at 858-3381.
Atherton

In Atherton, three of the five City Council seats are also up for election. Councilwoman Dianne "Didi" Fisher has said she will not run, leaving her seat open.

Mayor Alan Carlson and Councilman Bill Conwell said they intend to file for re-election. Charles Marsala, a member of several town committees, said he intends to run for a council seat.

Atherton residents who are interested in running for a council seat may call City Clerk Sharon Barker at 752-0529 for information.
Other races

Three four-year school board seats are up for election in three districts: Las Lomitas, Menlo Park and Ravenswood elementary school districts.

Menlo Park school board incumbents Laura Rich and Nancy Serrurier have said that they will be running for another term.

Three four-year seats on the Sequoia Healthcare District also will be on the ballot.

Two four-year terms will be open on the boards of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Wards 5 and 6; and the San Mateo County Harbor District. Ward 6 includes Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside and Portola Valley. Ward 5 includes Palo Alto, East Palo Alto and Stanford.

The filing period ends at 5 p.m. Friday, August 9, except in those districts and municipalities where an eligible incumbent fails to file; in that case, the deadline is extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, August 14.

Call 312-5370 for information on obtaining nomination papers for school, healthcare and harbor district races. For information on filing candidacy papers for the open space district, call 691-1200.

Information is also available on the county elections Web site: www.shapethefuture.org.