Nine seek a spot on Menlo Park fire board Nine seek a spot on Menlo Park fire board (August 17, 2005)

By Renee Batti

Almanac News Editor

One would think that the monthly Menlo Park Fire Protection District board meetings are nonstop fun and games, what with the number of people eager to claim a seat at the board dais in December.

The number of candidates for three open seats on the five-member board was up to nine as of the Almanac's press time on Monday, and the filing period doesn't close until Wednesday, August 17.

Four Menlo Park residents filed papers last week. The county had yet to verify the candidacy papers of Jack Nelson, a warehouse and operations manager, by press time. But Mr. Nelson, who said he's had about 12 years of experience in volunteer fire services elsewhere in the country, said he intends to be on the ballot.

Sarah Rankin, Terry Kent and Scott Freiermuth also filed papers last week, and the county has certified their candidacies.

Ms. Rankin is a senior-level executive who is self-employed as a management consultant. Mr. Kent owns Drexel Realty Services in Menlo Park, and is an appraiser and broker. Mr. Freiermuth, who grew up in Menlo Park, is director of sales for a software company in Sunnyvale.

Other challengers in the race, who filed early in the process, are former fire board member Steve Kennedy of East Palo Alto; Gerry B. Andeen of Menlo Park, an engineer who served on the Menlo Park City Council years ago; and Rex Ianson of Menlo Park, a retired Menlo Park district firefighter who still serves on the national search and rescue task force as part of the regional team headquartered in Menlo Park.

The challengers will be on the November 8 ballot with incumbents Peter Carpenter of Atherton and Ollie Brown of Menlo Park.

Incumbent Del Krause is not seeking re-election, which is why the filing period was extended to Wednesday.

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