Deadline passes for most elected offices

The deadline to file to run for a public office in Merced County has come and gone, and ballots in three districts in Merced will be particularly heavy with names.

Prospective candidates had to file paperwork by the end of the day Friday in any race with an incumbent. In races in which an incumbent did not file to seek re-election, the deadline is extended to Wednesday.

Merced County registrar of voters staff members stressed that the list available as of the Sun-Star’s Friday afternoon deadline would change as staffers received paperwork throughout the day that had not been updated online.

Merced’s offices drew a dozen candidates for races in Districts 1, 3 and 5, plus four candidates for the mayoral seat, according to the records available as of the Sun-Star’s deadline.

Small-business owner Necola Adams will face off in the mayor’s race against three councilmen: mental health counselor Noah Lor, business attorney Mike Murphy and history teacher Josh Pedrozo.

For the first time, Merced’s City Council seats have been carved into six districts, three of which are on the ballot this year. District 1, in the southeast corner of town, has drawn candidates Sonia Fernanda Alshami, logistics expert for her family’s business; Lakisha Jenkins, CEO of a nonprofit; Jesse Ornelas, a salesman; and Anthony Martinez, who didn’t list his occupation on county paperwork.

The downtown district, District 3, garnered candidates in homeless advocate Monica K. Villa, nurse Jill McLeod, university lecturer Chris Ramirez, and medical center Chief Financial Officer Daniel Kazakos.

Hopefuls for District 5 in northwest Merced are Denise Rossi, who works in a college library; Mary Camper, a real estate agent and professor; Matthew Serrato, a deputy district attorney; and Daniel Sabzehzar, a marketing director.

Los Banos Mayor Mike Villalta will run unopposed, according to records. That city will also have its first council elections by district, with two of the four districts up for election.

The northern District 1 will be a tug of war between pest control technician Brian Ring and pharmacy technician Daronica M. Johnson-Santos.

The westernmost sector, District 4, has drawn candidates in Deborah Lewis, who is on the City Council; Palmer McCoy, a planning commissioner; and Erasmo Viveros, a legislative director.

Two Atwater City Council seats are up for election and will be voted on in a citywide ballot. Business owner Paul Creighton, incumbent and real estate agent Larry Bergman, retired telecommunications worker Dan Hernandez and Cindy Vierra, who did not report her occupation on her paperwork, have all thrown their hats in the ring.

Incumbent Dos Palos Mayor Jerry Antonetti will face off with educator April Smith Hogue. Michael McGlynn and Joe Lerner, both incumbent councilmen, will run unopposed for the two seats.

Gustine’s mayoral seat has two candidates, incumbent Dennis Brazil and retired businessman Mel Oliveira. Council incumbent Joe Oliveira, quality assurance technician Leonard Acosta III and building contractor Craig Turner filed to vie for the two council seats.

Gustine incumbent Julie Lynn Anderson did not file for re-election, according to available records.

Livingston’s mayor race has no incumbent, because Rodrigo Espinoza won his bid for the Merced County District 1 supervisor’s seat in June. Councilman Jim Soria is the sole candidate for that seat, but the deadline has been extended to Wednesday for that race.

Livingston’s council has three open seats, which have drawn eight candidates. Running are Wapinder Kang, a Livingston police officer; Adanan Bath, a businessman; Mario Mendoza, a planning commissioner; incumbent Arturo Sicairos; Juan Aguilar Jr., who did not report his occupation; Alex McCabe, an appointed councilman; Robert Wallis, who did not report his occupation; and Jason Roth, a service provider.

The last day to register to vote is Oct. 24.

This story was originally published August 12, 2016 at 5:02 PM with the headline "Deadline passes for most elected offices."