Four-way race for Tiburon council; still time for challengers in Belvedere, schools

Incumbent Isaac Nikfar and former Mayor Andrew Thompson have officially entered the race for Tiburon Town Council, making it a four-way battle for two seats on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Read complete local election coverage at thearknewspaper.com/election2024

Both filed their candidacy papers last week ahead of the Aug. 9 nomination deadline, with Nikfar seeking to retain his seat and challenger Thompson gunning for a second stint on the council after serving from 1992 to 2003.

They’ll face incumbent Vice Mayor Holli Thier, who’s been on the council since 2017 and is in line to become mayor in December if reelected, and challenger Chuck Hornbrook, who’s been on the Parks, Open Space and Trails Commission since 2019. They’ve been in the race since July 25.

The Town Council race is among several for government offices representing Tiburon Peninsula residents, with some contests, like the Belvedere City Council, Reed and Tamalpais school districts and Strawberry recreation board, still accepting challengers through Aug. 14. Other races are now closed, with unchallenged incumbents winning early victories, like those on the Tiburon fire and local sanitary district boards, and other incumbents facing challenges, such as for the Southern Marin fire and the water district boards.

Belvedere City Council

In Belvedere, incumbents Nancy Kemnitzer and Jim Lynch are now officially out of the race to retain two of three seats up for election on the City Council after both declined to file by the Aug. 9 deadline.

However, because the incumbents didn’t file, challengers may still jump in through Aug. 14.

Kemnitzer’s exit was expected after she announced she wouldn’t seek a third term by city tradition, effectively guaranteeing the extension for newcomers. Lynch, who served one term, recently told The Ark he was undecided, though his departure had been rumored.

Their exits have paved the way for two planning commissioners, Kevin Burke and Pat Carapiet, and incumbent Sally Wilkinson to declare their candidacies unchallenged — at least so far. Wilkinson has served on the council since 2020, while Burke was appointed to the Planning Commission in 2022, Carapiet in 2015.

Residents interested in serving on the Belvedere council may obtain nomination papers at City Hall from City Clerk Beth Haener by 5 p.m.; contact her at 415-435-8913 or clerk@cityofbelvedere.org.

Other races still open

As with the Belvedere council, in other races in which any incumbent didn’t file by Aug. 9, challengers have an extension through 5 p.m. Aug. 14. The board races still accepting candidates are:

• Reed Union School District board: Incumbent Liz Webb filed last week to retain her four-year seat, with newcomer Sandeep Sahai of Tiburon also newly filing to take over the seat of incumbent Jacqueline Jaffee. Because Jaffee bowed out, other newcomers still have an opportunity to enter the race.

• Tamalpais Union High School District board: Newcomers Aniruddho “Ray” Chaudhuri and Amos Klausner have formally filed, while newcomer Nicholas Ondrejka joined Brandon Johnson in pulling papers in a potential four-way race for two seats. With incumbents Leslie Harlander and Karen Loebbaka declining to file to retain their seats, the deadline for challengers is extended through Aug. 14.

• Strawberry Recreation District board: To both plug a hole and potentially avoid an Election Day challenge, incumbent Christian Michael withdrew his candidacy for the single two-year seat and instead filed alongside incumbent Cale Nichols for the two four-year seats. Michael had been facing a contest with newcomer Sarah Waterfield for the two-year role, so she’s now poised to win unless anyone else jumps in by Aug. 14. Meanwhile, the other incumbent, Pam Bohner, had declined to file, and no one else had sought to replace her. With Bohner out, challengers may still enter either race through Aug. 14.

Candidates must file their nomination papers with the Marin Elections Department, Suite 121 of the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael. 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.

Other closed races with challengers

• Southern Marin Fire Protection District board: Incumbent Ashley Raveche and newcomer Rich Riechel filed at the deadline to make it a four-way race for three four-year seats. Also on the ballot will be incumbents Cathryn Hilliard and Clifford Waldeck, who both filed in late July.

• Marin Municipal Water District, Division 5: Incumbent Larry Russell of Tiburon, who has served since 2002, filed last week and will face a challenge for the single four-year seat from newcomers Dawn Matheson, who also filed last week, and Dave Keatley, both of Larkspur.

Decided races: Incumbents retain seats

• Mill Valley School District board: Incumbents Michele Crncich Hodge and Elli Abdoli will win their two four-year seats unchallenged.

• Tiburon Fire Protection District board: Incumbent Brett Tucker filed last week, so he and incumbent Mark Capell will win the two four-year seats, while incumbent Joy Ho will win the single two-year seat.

• Richardson Bay Sanitary District Board: Incumbents Jeff Slavitz and Mark Slater will retain their two four-year seats unchallenged.

• Sanitary District No. 5 of Marin board: Incumbents Omar Arias-Montez, John Carapiet and Richard Snyder will win their three four-year seats unchallenged.

• Marin Healthcare District board, Division 2: Incumbent Ann Sparkman will keep her four-year seat on the board.

Reach Executive Editor Kevin Hessel at 415-435-2652. Support local journalism and SUBSCRIBE NOW for home delivery and access to the digital replica.

Comment on this article on Nextdoor.