Local Election Season Kicks Off, Filing Opens

The election season for local races is here.

Those who'd like to run in the Nov. 6 election for local office in Alameda and other parts of Alameda County can begin taking out nomination papers on Monday, July 16. They have to be turned back in no later than Aug. 9 for city council seats and Aug. 10 for other local races. 

READERS: What issues do you think candidates should address during the campaign? Tell us  in the comments section below.

Alameda City Council

The current terms of Councilmembers Doug deHaan and Beverly Johson expire in December 2012.

Councilmember Rob Bonta is a candidate for the 18th Assembly District seat. If he wins that race, the third-place finisher would serve the remainder of Bonta's city council term, which expires in December 2014.

Jeff Cambra, former president of the League of Women Voters of Alameda, has already declared his candidacy for the city council.

City Auditor

The current term of City Auditor Kevin Kearney expires in December 2012.

City Treasurer

The current term of City Treasurer Kevin Kennedy expires in December 2012.

Alameda Unified School District Board of Trustees

Voters will be selecting three Alameda Board of Education members. The terms of school board members Ron Mooney, Trish Herrera and Niel Tam expire in December 2012.

City of Alameda Healthcare District (two seats)

Voters will be selecting two City of Alameda Health Care District directors. The current terms of board members Jordan Battani, incumbent board president, and J. Michael McCormick, incumbent treasurer, expire this year. The health care district operates Alameda Hospital.

East Bay Municipal Utility District

The current term of East Bay MUD director Doug Linney, who represents Alameda and other portions of the district's Ward 5, expires this year.

AC Transit

Ther current term of H. E. Christian Peeples, one of two at-large members of the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District's board of directors, expires this years.

East Bay Regional Park District

The current term of Doug Siden, who represents Alameda and other portions of Ward 4 on the park district's board of directors, expires this year.

Peralta Community College District

The current term of Bill Withrow, trustee for Area 1, which includes Alameda and a small portion of Oakland, expires this year.

RUN-OFF ELECTIONS

18th Assembly District

Rob Bonta, currently on the Alameda City Council, will face Abel Guillen in the Nov. 6 run-off election. Bonta received over 36 percent of the votes cast in the June primary election (from a field of four candidates), Guillen over 28 percent. Both are Democrats.

9th State Senate District

Incumbent Democrat Loni Hancock was unopposed in the June 2012 primary election, but write-in candidate Mary Catherine McIlroy, a Peace & Freedom Party member, received 768 votes.

13th Congressional District

Top vote-getters in the June primary were incumbent Democrat Barbara Lee, with more than 82 percent of the vote, and independent challenger Marilyn M. Singleton, with more than 11 percent.

Alameda Patch will provide updates on candidates who have taken out or filed nomination papers or announced their candidacy for local races. You will also find regular updates on Mike McMahon's website here.