SOUTH COUNTY — Voters in South County will have a slew of local candidates to choose from in the upcoming Nov. 6 Statewide General Election for numerous city councils, school boards and other special district governing bodies in the area.
Mayors and city councils
King City will have a relatively quiet election this November, as current Councilmember Darlene Acosta and Mayor Mike LeBarre are running unopposed for city council seats in Districts 1 and 2, respectively.
In Greenfield, two city council positions are available with five candidates running: Jessica Madrid-Bautista, Irene Garcia, David Mendoza, Drew Tipton and Angela Untalon.
Three mayoral candidates are also competing to be Greenfield’s next mayor: local businessman Raul Rodriguez, current Mayor Pro Tem Avelina Torres and current Councilmember Lance Walker. Greenfield Mayor Jesus OlveraGarcia is not seeking re-election.
City of Soledad has two positions up for election on its council, with incumbent Alejandro Chavez, Marisela Lara and Richard Perez competing as candidates. Current Councilmember Chris Bourke is not running for re-election.
Soledad Mayor Fred Ledesma is running unopposed for another term.
Four candidates are vying for three spots on the Gonzales City Council: Henry Martinez Sr., Paul Miller, incumbent Elizabeth Silva and Lorraine Worthy. Current Councilmembers Robert Bonincontri and Jose Lopez are not running for re-election.
Gonzales Mayor Maria Orozco is seeking re-election, and will compete against local property manager Henry Martinez Jr.
School boards
San Antonio Union School District Board has three four-year positions available, with candidates Eric Johansen, Nicholas Kennedy, incumbent Shellie Kennedy, Sandra Soares and Amy Sweet on the ballot. A two-year position is also up for election, with appointed incumbent Jason Soares and candidate Dennis Walters running.
In Greenfield, seven candidates are vying for three positions on the Greenfield Union School District Board: Cynthia Aguirre, Marisol Arizpe, John Ekelund, Denise Jaime, Eric Jones, David Kong and incumbent Juergen Smith.
Two four-year spots are up for grabs on the Soledad Unified School District Board, with incumbent Jaime Fernandez, Alfredo Flores, Jodi Massa and Monica Pantoja running as candidates. Voters will also choose between candidates Jess Barreras and Lucio Rios for a two-year position.
Three board member positions will be decided for Gonzales Unified School District, with candidates Maria Cuevas, appointed incumbent Araceli Flores, Jose Lopez, Monique Martinez and incumbent Rosalie Sanchez in the running.
In Chualar, six candidates are running for two positions for the Chualar Union Elementary School District Board Member Trustee Area 3: Alberto Contreras, Ofelia Flores, incumbent Rosa Manriquez, Rosalba Moreno, Esperanza Rangel and Miriam Trujillo.
Special districts
Soledad Community Health Care District has two director positions up for election, with three candidates in the running: Robert Bigiogni, incumbent Jack Franscioni and incumbent Anne Trebino.
Appointed candidates
The following candidates have been appointed in lieu of election due to an insufficient number of nominees:
Bradley Union School District — Manda Wiebe and Metelyn Vicente
Chualar Union Elementary School District, Trustee Area 1 — Richard Brown
King City Union School District — James Myers, Susan King and Vina Paramo
Mission Union School District — Christina Kaupp, George Mosqueda and Shane Larson
San Lucas Union Elementary School District — Anadelia Tejeda and Sheri Braden
South Monterey County Joint Union High School District — Paulette Bumbalough, Paul Drake and Leslie Girard
Gonzales Rural Fire Protection District — Victor Lanini
Vote-by-mail ballots will be mailed Oct. 6, with early voting beginning Oct. 8 at the Monterey County Elections Department at 1441 Schilling Place, North Building, in Salinas. Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Polling place locations will also be available Election Day, Nov. 6.
