Ex-mayor signals interest in new run for Tiburon council

Former Tiburon Mayor Andrew Thompson is poised to come out of retirement to challenge for a spot on the Town Council, making it a potential four-way race for two seats in the Nov. 5 election.

Read complete local election coverage at thearknewspaper.com/election2024

Thompson, who served on the council from 1992 to 2003 before an unsuccessful bid for county supervisor, pulled candidate-nomination papers on July 25, according to town records. The same day, incumbent Vice Mayor Holli Thier and Parks, Open Space and Trails Commissioner Chuck Hornbrook filed their papers to formally enter the race.

Incumbent Councilmember Isaac Nikfar has said he’ll seek reelection but hadn’t made any movement as of The Ark’s July 29 press deadline.

The filing deadline is 5 p.m. Aug. 9. If Nikfar, as an incumbent, doesn’t file by then, challengers may continue to jump in through 5 p.m. Aug. 14. Interested residents 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.

• Belvedere City Council: There are no new entrants in the three-way race for three seats, though challenger Pat Carapiet, who sits on the Planning Commission and previously pulled candidacy papers, filed on July 23. Commission colleague Kevin Burke and incumbent Sally Wilkinson filed previously.

Incumbent Councilmember Nancy Kemnitzer said she won’t seek a third term, while incumbent Councilmember Jim Lynch has said he’s undecided. Both have until Aug. 9 to file; if either declines, challengers may file through Aug. 14.

Interested residents 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.

Races with action

• Tiburon Fire Protection District board: Incumbent Mark Capell filed his candidacy papers July 24 for one of the two four-year seats; incumbent Brett Tucker previously pulled papers for the other. Incumbent Joy Ho also filed July 24 for the remaining two-year seat.

• Tamalpais Union High School District board: Amos Klausner has pulled papers for one of two four-year seats. Incumbents Leslie Harlander and Karen Loebbaka are eligible for reelection but have not pulled papers.

• Sanitary District No. 5 of Marin board: Incumbent Omar Arias-Montez filed papers July 23 and incumbent John Carapiet filed July 25, joining incumbent Richard Snyder in the race for three four-year seats.

• Marin Municipal Water District board, Division 5: David Keatley and Dawn Matheson, both of Larkspur, have pulled papers for the seat held since 2004 by Tiburon’s Larry Russell, who has also pulled papers to keep the job. It’s a potential four-way race, with only Richardson Bay Sanitary District boardmember Jeff Slavitz, a former Tiburon mayor, filing for the seat so far.

• Southern Marin Fire Protection District board: Rich Riechel has pulled papers, a potential challenger for one of three four-year seats. Incumbent Ashley Raveche has now pulled papers, while incumbent Clifford Waldeck filed July 26 and incumbent Cathryn Hilliard filed July 29.

Races with no changes

• Reed Union School District board: Incumbents Jacqueline Jaffee and Liz Webb are eligible for reelection to the two four-year seats, but no candidates have taken out papers.

• Mill Valley School District board: Incumbents Michele Crncich Hodge and Elli Abdoli have filed papers to retain their two four-year seats.

• Richardson Bay Sanitary District board: Incumbents Slavitz and Mark Slater are eligible for reelection to the two four-year seats, but no candidates have taken out papers.

• Strawberry Recreation District board: Incumbent Cale Nichols has taken out papers for one of the two four-year seats; incumbent Pam Bohner is also eligible for reelection. Incumbent Christian Michael filed for the remaining two-year seat.

• Marin Healthcare District board, Division 2: Incumbent Ann Sparkman is eligible for reelection, but no candidates have taken out papers.

As with the Tiburon and Belvedere council races, all candidates have until 5 p.m. Aug. 9 to file for election. If any incumbent in a race fails to file, challengers in that race will get an extended deadline through 5 p.m. 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.

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