Merced supervisor candidates collecting signatures

The Merced County Board of Supervisors race is shaping up to be a crowded one, though no candidate has officially filed papers.

County Districts 1, 2 and 4 are up for election on June 7.

The race in District 4 has six contenders. Deidre Kelsey, who has served the district for two decades, announced in July she would not seek re-election. District 4 stretches from Snelling to Gustine.

Potential District 4 candidates who are circulating petitions include: Fidel Cervantes, 23, Delhi; Paul Dunn, 62, Snelling; Rich Ford, 57, Gustine; Jack Mobley, 58, Merced; Lloyd Pareira, 53, Merced; and Ramon Prado, 29, Delhi.

In District 2, incumbent Hub Walsh will face two challengers: Lee Lor and Casey Steed.

The district is made up mostly of central and north Merced.

Lor, 33, launched her campaign Feb. 10. Steed, 53, challenged Walsh in 2012. Walsh has served District 2 since 2008.

So far, incumbent John Pedrozo, 58, is the lone contender for District 1. Pedrozo, first elected in 2004, serves the county jurisdiction stretching from Livingston to Le Grand.

Candidates have until March 11 to officially file papers with the county.

Many will wait until the last weeks to file, said assistant registrar of voters David Sullivan.

Candidates need at least 20 signatures to file their petitions. Most candidates will try to get as many signatures as possible to lower the filing fee, which is $1,000.58, Sullivan said.

This story was originally published February 21, 2016 at 2:57 PM with the headline "Merced supervisor candidates collecting signatures."