Election Day picture gets clearer for local offices

The candidate filing period for local offices on the November ballot is in the final stretch, with the window closing Aug. 9 for several races, though some races have fewer candidates than seats.

Read complete local election coverage at thearknewspaper.com/election2024

At The Ark’s press time on Aug. 5, a battle had not yet materialized for Tiburon Town Council, with only incumbent Holli Thier and Parks, Open Space and Trails Commissioner Chuck Hornbrook formally filing for the two seats. Incumbent Isaac Nikfar and former Mayor Andrew Thompson have pulled papers but not yet filed.

If Nikfar does file, the race will close at 5 p.m. Aug. 9. In races in which any incumbent fails to file by that deadline, an extension only for challengers runs through 5 p.m. Aug. 14.

That extra time is all but guaranteed in the race for three seats on the Belvedere City Council, where incumbent Nancy Kemnitzer is eligible to run but has said she is stepping down after two terms under local tradition, while one-term incumbent Jim Lynch hasn’t made any movement to retain his seat. He previously told The Ark he was undecided but did not respond last week to a follow-up request for comment.

Meanwhile, incumbent Sally Wilkinson and Planning Commissioners Kevin Burke and Pat Carapiet have all filed and could lock up the three seats unchallenged by next week.

Residents interested in serving on the Tiburon council may obtain nomination papers at Town Hall from Town Clerk Lea Dilena between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; she’ll also be available 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9. Contact Dilena at 415-435-7377 or ldilena@townoftiburon.org.

Residents interested in serving on the Belvedere council may obtain nomination papers at City Hall from City Clerk Beth Haener 8 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, or by appointment on weekdays through 5 p.m. Contact Haener at 415-435-8913 or clerk@cityofbelvedere.org.

Meanwhile, Richardson Bay Sanitary District board member Jeff Slavitz has withdrawn from the race for the Division 5 seat on the Marin Municipal Water District, instead filing for reelection to the sanitary district board.

The former Tiburon mayor had filed papers to challenge water district incumbent Larry Russell of Tiburon before two Larkspur residents showed interest in the race. Dave Keatley is now the only candidate to formally file, while Dawn Matheson has pulled papers. Russell has also pulled papers, but if he fails to file by Aug. 9 he’s out, and challengers will be able to join through Aug. 14.

Slavitz is one of two incumbents on the sanitary-district board, with Mark Slater filing Aug. 2, which will close the filing period on Aug. 9.

Other races with action

• Reed Union School District board: Incumbent Liz Webb has pulled papers, while incumbent Jacqueline Jaffee confirmed with The Ark that she’s bowing out. That means challengers will get until Aug. 14 to enter the race.

• Tamalpais Union High School District board: Brandon Johnson has joined Amos Klausner as newcomers pulling papers for the two four-year seats, but no candidate has formally filed. If they do, they may move into office unchallenged, as incumbents Leslie Harlander and Karen Loebbaka both confirmed with The Ark last week that they will not seek reelection. That also means challengers will get a filing extension through 5 p.m. Aug. 14.

• Strawberry Recreation District board: Sarah Waterfield has filed papers to challenge incumbent Christian Michael for a two-year seat on the board. Michael had already filed to ensure the race closes Aug. 9. Meanwhile, incumbent Cale Nichols has taken out papers for one of the two four-year seats, but incumbent Pam Bohner told The Ark she hadn’t decided whether to seek reelection. If either fail to file, challengers will get until Aug. 14.

Races with no changes

• Mill Valley School District board: Incumbents Michele Crncich Hodge and Elli Abdoli have filed papers to retain their two four-year seats, ensuring the filing period will close Aug. 9.

• Tiburon Fire Protection District board: Incumbent Mark Capell has filed and incumbent Brett Tucker has pulled papers for the two four-year seats, though if Tucker doesn’t file, challengers will get until Aug. 14. Meanwhile, incumbent Joy Ho has filed for the single two-year seat, ensuring that race will close Aug. 9.

• Southern Marin Fire Protection District board: Incumbent Ashley Raveche and newcomer Rich Riechel have pulled papers, potentially making it a four-way race for three four-year seats. However, only incumbents Cathryn Hilliard and Clifford Waldeck have formally filed. If Raveche doesn’t file, Riechel and other challengers will get until Aug. 14.

• Sanitary District No. 5 of Marin board: Incumbents Omar Arias-Montez, John Carapiet and Richard Snyder have all filed to retain their three four-year seats, ensuring the filing period closes Aug. 9.

• Marin Healthcare District board, Division 2: Incumbent Ann Sparkman told The Ark last week she hadn’t decided whether she’d seek reelection. No candidates have pulled papers. If Sparkman does not file, newcomers can enter through Aug. 14.

For all offices except the two local councils, candidates must file their nomination papers with the Marin Elections Department, Suite 121 of the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael. The office is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays and until 5 p.m. on the Aug. 9 and 14 filing deadlines. Candidate application forms are also available on the county elections website via arkn.ws/marincandidateapply; staff will prepare and email nomination papers with further instructions.

Contact candidate-services official Dan Miller at 415-473-6437 or danmiller@marincounty.org with questions. For more information about the election, including a candidate guide, visit marinvotes.org.

Reach Executive Editor Kevin Hessel at 415-435-2652.