Election roundup: Fire district will have a real contest Election roundup: Fire district will have a real contest (August 10, 2005)

The race is on in the Menlo Park Fire Protection District: Two more candidates filed papers last week, boosting the unofficial list of candidates to five, as of the Almanac's press time Monday. There are three open seats.

Former district firefighter Rex Ianson filed papers and was cleared for the November 8 ballot early last week. Former Menlo Park city councilman Gerry B. Andeen, an engineer, filed his papers last week, but as of the Almanac's press time, the county had not verified them.

Incumbents Ollie Brown, also a former firefighter, and Peter Carpenter have been given the stamp of approval for the ballot, as has former board member Steve Kennedy, who lost his bid for re-election in 2003.

Incumbent Del Krause has said he won't run for re-election; unless he changes his mind, the filing deadline will be extended to Wednesday, August 17. If he were to file papers, the deadline for filing would be Friday, August 12.

The fire district serves residents in Menlo Park, Atherton, East Palo Alto and nearby unincorporated areas.
Carroll Ann Hodges files for Woodside council

Woodside Town Council incumbent Carroll Ann Hodges has filed papers to run in District 6 in the November 8 election.

Of the two other incumbents whose terms expire this year, Deborah Gordon in District 2 has taken out papers, and Joe Putnam in District 4 had not, and was unavailable for comment.

A special Town Council meeting has been called for Tuesday, August 9, to discuss how to fill the District 1 seat vacated by Dave Tanner, who has left the council because he moved to a new home in Woodside in another district. Although elected town-wide, council members are required to live in the district they represent.

The council is expected to fill the District 1 seat with an appointee until a special election can be held. The seat's term expires in November 2007.

Woodside Town Council meetings start at 7:30 p.m. and are held in Independence Hall, 2955 Woodside Road.
West Bay Sanitary District

There will be at least one new face on the board of the West Bay Sanitary District since incumbent John Carcione has decided not to run for re-election after serving two terms.

"I've accomplished what I wanted. The district is in great shape," Mr. Carcione told The Almanac. Now he's focusing on working as a lawyer as an advocate for children and their parents in the juvenile Private Defender program. "There are a lot of ways to serve," he said.

Of five board seats, two are up for election this year. As of last Friday, the only candidate to file was incumbent David Knight, who has served on the board since 1982.

He said he wants to stay on the board to make sure the South Bay System Authority, which treats sewage for San Mateo County cities from Belmont south, selects a good successor to longtime general manager Jim Bewley, who is retiring.

"It's extremely important we find a fine replacement for Mr. Bewley," he said. "I want to see this through."

The sanitary district treats wastewater for 13 square miles of Menlo Park, Atherton, East Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Woodside and unincorporated San Mateo County.
Los Trancos County Water District

With three four-years terms on the governing board to be filled in November, the Los Trancos County Water District had three candidates by the end of last week.

As of August 5, incumbent Curt Parkin had filed together with newcomers Frazier Miller, a business executive, and David Smernoff, a community volunteer.

The district, which provides water to the rural communities of Los Trancos Woods and Vista Verde, has reduced responsibilities since it recently sold its water system to California Water Service Company. It retains some real estate, according to board president Stan Gage.
Skyline County Water District

The Skyline County Water District, which provides water for the Skyline area, will be electing directors for three four-year terms and one two-year term this November.

By last Friday, no one had filed for the two-year term. Incumbents Christopher J. Reynolds and Leiv Lea had filed for four-year terms.
Ladera Recreation

By the end of last week, the Ladera Recreation District, which runs the community's swimming and tennis complex, had two candidates for three seats. Incumbent Marianne Gerson and Diane Gow had filed.
DEADLINE

As deadlines close in to run for local offices in November, several local government agencies are short a candidate or so. Deadline for filing is 5 p.m. Friday, August 12. And if an incumbent fails to file for re-election, the deadline is extended five days until Wednesday, August 17.

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