Candidate Filing for Local Races Starts Monday

The candidate-filing season for local elections is rapidly approaching.

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

Hercules City Council

Two Hercules residents -- Bill Kelly and Phil Simmons -- have already announced their plans to run for seats on the City Council.

Three of the five seats on the Hercules City Council will be up for election. Those who'd like to run can obtain the papers from the Hercules City Clerk. 

The three incumbents whose current four-year terms are expiring are Councilman Gerard Boulanger, Mayor Dan Romero and Councilman Bill Wilkins. Vice Mayor John Delgado and Councilwoman Myrna de Vera will be up for re-election in November 2014.

Candidates must registered voters living in Hercules. Completed nomination papers must be submitted by Friday, August 10, 2012. If an incumbent fails to submit a nomination petition for re-election, the deadline for submittal of the nomination petition is extended an additional five calendar days, August 15, 2012, according to a city notice about the filing period.

West Contra Costa school board

Two of the five board seats for the West Contra Costa Unified School District will be decided. The current four-year terms for Antonio Medrano and Tony Thurmond are expiring.

Nomination papers can be obtained from the Contra Costa County Elections Office at 555 Escobar St. in Martinez.

John Swett Unified School District Board

Three positions will be up for election in November.

Other Special Districts

Elections will be held for board seats for a wide range of other special districts, some occupying only a part of the county, and for which the county is but a part.

Also in the election are board seats for other special districts that span more than one county, including Contra Costa, including BART, AC Transit, East Bay MUD and East Bay Regional Park District.

The Contra Costa Elections Division has a list on its website of all the special districts with elected offices that the county is part of.

*When first published, this article said Vice Mayor John Delgado and Councilwoman Myrna de Vera were up for re-election in 2012.