Election 2004: Filing period opens for November ballot Election 2004: Filing period opens for November ballot (July 14, 2004)

** Candidates can take out papers.

By Rebecca Wallace
Almanac Staff Writer

Not everyone has the stomach to duke it out for the nation's highest office. But there are plenty more slots to compete for on the November ballot.

As of July 12, residents could start taking out and filing candidacy papers in hopes of serving on such elected bodies as city councils and school boards.

The deadline for filing is 5 p.m. Friday, August 6 -- except if an incumbent opts not to run. In that case, the deadline is extended by five calendar days.

In Menlo Park, the race for two four-year seats on the City Council started shaping up early. Councilman Paul Collacchi and Chuck Kinney have already said they won't run again, and planning commissioners Kelly Fergusson and Lorie Sinnott have announced their candidacies.

Two four-year seats are also up for election on the Atherton City Council. Incumbent Jim Janz says he'll run again, while Kathy McKeithen has not formally announced her intentions.

Education-minded folks can try their hands at running for the school board. A four-year term is up for grabs on the San Mateo County Board of Education. That seat represents the Las Lomitas Elementary, Menlo Park City Elementary, Portola Valley Elementary, Ravenswood City and Woodside Elementary school districts, as well as parts of the Sequoia Union High School District.

Each of three local school district boards also have two four-year seats on the ballot: Las Lomitas, Menlo Park City, and Ravenswood.

On the board of the Sequoia Healthcare District, there are two four-year seats and one two-year seat up for election.

There's also an opportunity on the board of directors for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. A four-year seat representing part of Woodside, Redwood City, San Carlos and unincorporated San Mateo County is on the ballot.

Ballot measures

The election, of course, isn't just a matter of picking the proper people. It's also about asking voters for financial help.

Measure A, a major county-wide measure that would reauthorize the half-cent transportation sales tax, is expected to appear on the ballot. If approved by two-thirds of county voters, the measure would raise $1.5 billion over 25 years for projects involving Caltrain, buses, shuttles, highway improvements, grade separations, local streets, bicycles, pedestrians, and the disabled.

In addition, the Sequoia Union High School District is considering putting a measure on the ballot that could raise $70 million for school construction projects.

The Atherton City Council has approved a November ballot proposal that would raise the town's parcel tax by $180 annually for most plots of land. A key source of town revenue, the tax would increase from a maximum of $750 to a cap of $930 for parcels of one-half acre to two acres. Most properties fall into that category.

INFORMATION

City council candidates must take out and file papers with the City Clerk's office. For Menlo Park, call 330-6620; for Atherton, call 752-0529. Candidates for local school boards or the Sequoia Healthcare District must obtain and file papers with the San Mateo County Elections Office. Call 312-5222. For the Midpeninsula Open Space District, call 691-1200 for information about obtaining papers at the district's Los Altos office.

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