ELECTION 2005: Filing period opens for fall election ELECTION 2005: Filing period opens for fall election (July 20, 2005)

The filing period is open for the November 8 election, when the ballot could be crowded with a dozen state and local measures and initiatives, as well as many candidates vying for seats on town councils, school boards and fire boards.

The majority of seats -- three of five -- are up for election on the Portola Valley Town Council, the Portola Valley School District board, the Woodside School District board, and the Menlo Park Fire Protection District board.

On the Woodside Town Council, four of seven seats may be up -- three because terms expire, and a fourth because a councilman may move outside the seat's district.

Two of five seats are up for election on the Sequoia Union High School District board, and the West Bay Sanitary District board.

All the seats are for four-year terms.
Portola Valley

Of the three Portola Valley council members whose terms expire, Richard Merk and Ted Driscoll said they will run again; George Comstock, in his first term, said he won't make his decision public until the filing deadline August 12.

Of the three board members in the Portola Valley School District whose terms expire, Deborah Rappaport said she won't run, and Donna Carano and Ray Villareal have not announced.
Woodside

Of the three Woodside council members whose terms expire, Deborah Gordon in District 2 plans to run; Carroll Ann Hodges in District 6 hasn't decided; and Joe Putnam in District 4 could not be reached.

Dave Tanner in District 1 said he expects to move to another home in Woodside outside his district, and will likely announce his plans at the July 26 council meeting.

In the Woodside School District, board members Barbara Tagg and Tom Mudd said they won't run, and Bettina Pike could not be reached.
Other school boards

Both board members in the Sequoia Union High School District whose terms are expiring -- Gordon Lewin and Sally Stewart -- will run, according to Mr. Lewin. Ms. Stewart was unavailable for comment.

On the board of the San Mateo County Community College District -- which oversees Canada College in Woodside, College of San Mateo and Skyline College in San Bruno -- incumbents Helen Hausman of Atherton and Richard Holober of Millbrae said they will run again.
Special districts

Of the three board members whose terms are expiring on the Menlo Park Fire Protection District board, 13-year member Del Krause said he won't seek re-election, Ollie Brown said he will run, and Peter Carpenter said he hasn't decided.

Woodside resident Peter Berger said he plans to run for re-election to the Woodside Fire Protection District board. Mr. Berger has served since 1987. His is the only term expiring on the three-member board.

On the West Bay Sanitary District board, two terms expire this year: that of board President John Carcione and longtime member David Knight.

On the Ladera Recreation District board, all three seats are up for election.
How to run

Candidates for town or city offices must visit the respective town or city clerks to obtain election papers. Candidates for school, fire and sanitary district boards can obtain papers at the San Mateo County Elections Office at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo.

The filing period opened Monday, July 18, and ends at 5 p.m. Friday, August 12. If an incumbent chooses not to run for re-election, the filing deadline for that race is extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, August 17.

For more information, call Mark Numainville at 312-5370, or check www.shapethefuture.org.

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