July 11, 2008

Candidate Filing Period Opens for the November 4, 2008 Election
Filing period runs from July 14 through August 8

Redwood City, CA –San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer, Warren Slocum, issued the official public notice for the upcoming November 4 Presidential General Election and announced the opening of the Candidate Filing period for 24 jurisdictions that have a total of 48 local contests on the November 4 ballot.

“I encourage all voters to become more engaged and active in their communities,” said Slocum. “The quality of life on the Peninsula depends upon the willingness of dedicated, hard-working thoughtful leaders who willingly step forward and offer themselves in public service. Public service is an honorable calling and those who step forward make our communities stronger.”

Jurisdictions with candidate selections for the November 4, 2008 ballot include 11 school districts, 6 special districts, and 7 cities in San Mateo County. An undetermined number of local ballot measures are also expected to be before the voters in addition to the federal offices for president, the state representatives from our area and the 11 state propositions that have qualified to date.
For candidates seeking local elected office, the filing period opens on July 14, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. and will close on 5:00 p.m., August 8, 2008.

Candidates for municipal offices must file their nomination papers with the City Clerk of their respective city. If an eligible incumbent does not file by 5:00 p.m. on August 8, the period will be extended and candidates (other than the incumbent) will have until 5:00 p.m. on August 13, 2008, to complete the nomination requirements for that office.

We encourage all candidates to call (650) 312-5293 to make an appointment with the Candidate Filing Officer, Lupe Sanchez. She meets with all prospective candidates and reviews the steps in the process, the forms and the requirements for successful filing. For further information, voters may contact the San Mateo County Registration-Elections Division at (650) 312-5222, or visit www.shapethefuture.org.

Offices open for election in the November 4 Presidential General include:

• United States Congress
  12th and 14th Congressional Districts
  
  
• California State Assembly
  12th, 19th and 21st State Assembly Districts
  
  
• California State Senate
  11th State Senate District
  
  
• City Council:
  Atherton
  Colma
  Daly City
  East Palo Alto
  Hillsborough
  Menlo Park
  Pacifica
  
  
• City Clerk and City Treasurer
  Daly City
  
  
• School Districts
  Bayshore School District
  Brisbane Elementary School District
  Cabrillo Unified School District
  Jefferson Union High School District
  La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District
  Las Lomitas Elementary School District
  Menlo Park City Elementary School District
  Pacifica School District
  Ravenswood City School District
  San Mateo County Board of Education Trustee Areas 4, 5, 6, and 7
  South San Francisco Unified School District
  
  
• Special Districts
  Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Ward #7
  North Coast County Water District
  Peninsula Health Care District
  Pescadero Municipal Advisory Council
  San Mateo County Harbor District
  Sequoia Healthcare District

The San Mateo County Elections Office publishes a Candidates Guide; the November 4, 2008 Candidate’s Guide is now available online at www.shapethefuture.org in the Campaigns Resources section of the website. Those who are running, those who are helping someone run, those who are considering running and those who are interested in the process will find this comprehensive overview very helpful and interesting.

Similarly, a Candidate Seminar will be held on July 26 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 am at the Elections Office, 40 Tower Road in San Mateo. Candidates and their key campaign staff are invited to attend.