It is clear for the most part who might be running for county
offices in the June primary, with the candidate deadline passing to
submit signatures in lieu of filing fees for the June primary.
It is clear for the most part who might be running for county offices in the June primary, with the candidate deadline passing to submit signatures in lieu of filing fees for the June primary.
Most residents who ultimately run for local office do so by submitting the required number of signatures. This year, that deadline was Feb. 25, or Thursday, to have the signatures turned in. Potential candidates outside of those residents do have until March 12 to declare candidacy, only they would have to pay the associated fees.
So far, just three of the county races are shaping up to be contested. For sheriff, it is appearing as though police Sgt. Ray Wood, Undersheriff Patrick Turturici, Watsonville police Lt. Darren Thompson and San Benito County Marshal Robert Scattini all will vie for the seat overseeing the county’s law enforcement.
The two open supervisors’ seats also look to be contested. In District 3, incumbent Supervisor Pat Loe would face Robert Rivas, long active behind the scenes politically and currently senior board of supervisors clerk in Monterey County. That district includes southwest Hollister, south of South Street and east to Memorial Drive.
In District 4, incumbent Supervisor Reb Monaco is set to take on two challengers for the second consecutive election. Longtime local businessmen Phil Fortino and Jerry Muenzer both have indicated preliminary intentions to run for the seat, which covers South County, southeast Hollister, Tres Pinos, Ridgemark, Paicines, Bitterwater and New Idria.
In other local races uncontested to this point, incumbents running again include District Attorney Candice Hooper, Clerk/Recorder/Auditor Joe Paul Gonzalez, Assessor Tom Slavich, schools Superintendent Mike Sanchez and Treasurer/Tax Collector Mary Lou Andrade.
