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Candidate filing period opens for November election

by Renee Batti

As voters cast their ballots for the nation's president on Nov. 6, Menlo Park and Atherton residents will also make choices in races for city council seats and for spots on school boards of two districts serving the area.

The candidate filing period for those races, and for two seats on the Sequoia Healthcare District board, opened July 16 and ends Aug. 10.

In Menlo Park, the City Council terms of Kelly Fergusson and Andy Cohen expire in December. Ms. Fergusson has announced that she intends to run for re-election; Mr. Cohen has said publicly that he hasn't yet decided.

Others who have announced their intent to run are Transportation Commissioner Ray Mueller, Housing Commissioner Carolyn Clarke, and firefighter Dave Bragg.

Atherton council members Kathy McKeithen and Elizabeth Lewis are finishing up their terms in December as well. Ms. Lewis told the Almanac last week that she has not decided whether to seek re-election; Ms. McKeithen could not be reached for comment.

School boards

On the Menlo Park City School District board, seats held by Maria Hilton and Jeff Child will be filled by voters in November. Candidates will run for four-year terms on the five-member board.

Voters will also fill two seats on the five-member Las Lomitas School District board. The terms of Maria Doktorczyk and John Macdonald also expire this year. Members serve for four years.

Health-care, open space districts

Two seats on the five-member Sequoia Healthcare District board, those of Katie Kane and Kim Griffin, will be filled by voters in November.

On the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District board, there will be an open seat to be filled in Ward 7, which includes Woodside. Only Ward 7 residents may vote to fill that seat, which is now held by Cecily Harris.

Filing

If an incumbent in any race doesn't file candidate papers by Aug. 10, the filing period will be extended to Aug. 15.

People interested in city council seats should contact the city clerk of the specific jurisdiction: Margaret Roberts in Menlo Park, 330-6620; and Theresa DellaSanta in Atherton, 752-0504. Ms. DellaSanta said that an appointment isn't necessary to pick up papers in Town Hall, but is encouraged so that potential candidates won't have to wait around for assistance.

For information on filing papers for school board or special district races, contact Meaghan Hassel Shearer in the San Mateo County elections office, 312-5293.

The county is conducting a candidate seminar at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 19, at the elections office, 40 Tower Road in San Mateo.

Posted by The Election, a resident of the Atherton: other neighborhood, on Jul 18, 2012 at 9:03 am

Kathy McKeithen ran on term limits in 2000. This would be her fourth term. Rumor is that Smith McKeithen will run for her seat? McKeithen is working on long range plans such as the library in the park and the charter city change.