Local elections will be held in the Menlo Park Fire Protection District and the Los Trancos County Water District.

Each district has three candidates running for two seats, according to the San Mateo County Registrar of Voters.

A contest is likely as well for two seats on the school board in Portola Valley, with three residents taking out candidate papers. By the Almanac's press time Monday, Aug. 13, only two candidates had filed.

The filing period closed Friday for races in which all the incumbents chose to run for re-election. For races in which an incumbent bowed out, the deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15.

Woodside

An uncontested election appears likely for four seats on the Woodside Town Council this year.

In the Woodside Elementary School District, a contested election could happen if other candidates file for two seats on the school board. Incumbent Trustee Ellen Ablow has filed; incumbent Kimberly McMorrow is not seeking re-election. Virginia Bamford, a parent involved with the school's PTA and site council, has said she will run for a board seat. The filing deadline is extended to Aug. 15 for this race.

With just two candidates running for two seats on the governing board of the Woodside Fire Protection District, incumbents John Gardner of Portola Valley and Patrick Cain of Ladera will be reappointed.

Portola Valley

Deadlines have been extended to Wednesday for races in Portola Valley and Ladera because at least one incumbent is not running for re-election.

Judith Ann Mendelsohn and Brad Turner are running for two seats on the board of the Portola Valley Elementary School District. Steven Humphreys has taken out papers.

For two seats on the Portola Valley Town Council, the candidates so far include incumbent Councilman Steve Toben, who has filed his papers at Town Hall, and Planning Commission Chair Ann Wengert, who said she is planning to run but had not yet filed by the Almanac's press deadline on Monday, according to Assistant Town Clerk Sharon Hanlon.

In Ladera, where two seats are open for the board of the recreation district, high school teacher and resident Peter Caryotakis and resident Karen Fryling have filed.

Menlo fire board

The race is on in the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, with three candidates vying for two open seats.

Incumbents Bart Spencer and John Osmer filed candidate papers early on, but Peter Ohtaki, who works for a nonprofit focused on security issues, filed papers on the last possible day, Aug. 10.

Mr. Ohtaki, 46, grew up in Menlo Park, attending local schools. He returned to town only recently after living in San Francisco and Belmont for a number of years. He was appointed to the Mid-Peninsula Water District (Belmont) board of directors in 2006, but recently resigned his seat after moving from that district.

He hasn't attended fire district board meetings, but has been trained in the district's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, he said.

He's the Bay Area regional director of Business Executives for National Security, a national organization made up of business leaders focusing on national security issues.

Bart Spencer, who has had a long career in emergency services, including as a firefighter/paramedic, is running for his third four-year term on the board. He works with the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services, and is a Menlo Park resident.

Mr. Osmer is running for his second term on the board. A Menlo Park resident, he is employed by Solectron Corp., a global electronics manufacturing and services company. His career has included a stint as a congressional aide in Washington, D.C.

Other races

In the Los Trancos County Water District, an election is on for three candidates from the unincorporated Los Trancos neighborhood who are running for the two open seats on the board.

Incumbent Charles Krenz is running for re-election. The other candidates are Richard Swan, listed by the registrar's office as a founder of a software company, and Mike Ward, who is listed as a community volunteer.

Registration for several races closed Friday, Aug. 10, in which the candidates will be appointed — an election will not be held — because the number of candidates matches the number of expiring terms.

On the board of the Sequoia Union High School District, incumbents Olivia Martinez, Don Gibson and Lorraine Rumley will be re-appointed for four-year terms.

On the board of the West Bay Sanitary District, incumbents John B. Lomax, Ronald W. Shepherd and David Alexander Walker, all from Menlo Park, will be re-appointed.

Incumbents Dave Mandelkern of Burlingame and Karen Schwarz and Patricia Miljanich, both of Redwood City, will be re-appointed to the board of the San Mateo County Community College District.

For the Skyline County Water District, incumbent John A. Jahraus will be re-appointed to the board and heavy equipment operator Dan Cissell appointed.

Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.