Redwood City CA - San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer, Warren Slocum , issued the official public notice of the date and scope of the next presidential general election for local offices. Slocum announced, “The Presidential General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 , the polls will be open from 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. ”

“The filing period for those interested in running for office on the November ballot opens on Monday, July 12, 2004 and runs through 5:00 P.M. Friday, August 6, 2004 ,” said Slocum. “If an eligible incumbent has not filed by that later date and hour, the period is extended and candidates will have until 5:00 P.M. on August 11, 2004 , to complete the nomination requirements for that office,” he explained.

The necessary declarations and nomination papers for eligible candidates for any of the elective offices subject to that election are now available at the Registration-Elections Division office, located at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo . To make an appointment or obtain information, prospective candidates may call 650.312.5370 and ask for Linda Tulett , the Candidate Filing Officer.

While nomination forms for most elective offices are filed at the San Mateo County Elections Office, the nomination documents for eligible persons desiring to declare candidacy for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District must be obtained and filed at the District’s Office at 330 Distel Circle, Los Gatos, 94022-1404, 650.691.1200.

According to Slocum, the following local school and special district elective offices will be in contention:

School Districts:

• San Mateo County Board of Education: four 4-year terms, one each Trustee Areas 4, 5, 6, & 7
• Bayshore School District: two 4-year terms
• Brisbane School District: two 4-year terms
• Cabrillo Unified School District: two 4-year terms
• Jefferson Union High School District: two 4-year terms
• La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District: three 4-year terms
• Las Lomitas Elementary School District: two 4-year terms
• Menlo Park City Elementary School District: two 4-year terms
• Pacifica School District: two 4-year terms
• Ravenswood City School District: two 4-year terms
• South San Francisco Unified School District: two 4-year terms

Qualifications for the offices as set forth in the Education Code are:

Any registered voter who is a resident of the school district, and who is not disqualified by the Constitution or laws of the state from holding a civil office.

Special Districts:

• Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District: one 4-year term, Ward 7
• North Coast County Water District: two 4-year terms
• Peninsula Health Care District: two 4-year terms
• Pescadero Municipal Advisory Council: seven 4-year terms (1 At Large, 3 in District 1; 1 each in Districts 2, 3, & 4)
• San Mateo County Harbor District: three 4-year terms
• Sequoia Healthcare District: two 4-year terms; one 2-year term

Qualifications for the offices as set forth in the Principal Acts are:

Must be a voter of the District, or as otherwise specified in the Principal Act of the District. Additionally, candidates for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and the San Mateo County Harbor District must collect nomination signatures.

Appointments to each elective office will be made by the supervising authority if there are no candidates or an insufficient number of candidates for that office and a petition for an election is not filed within the time prescribed by law (5:00 P.M. on August 11, 2004). The appointment rules are prescribed by Education Code §§5326 and 5328, Elections Code §§10407 and 10515, and Public Resources Code §5532.

Voters of the San Mateo County Harbor District have until September 3, 2004 to file a petition requesting an election be held for Harbor Commissioner. According to the code, “In the case where only one person has been nominated or no person has been nominated for each of the offices to be filled at that election, and the election would otherwise NOT be held.” In other words, if no one files to run or not enough candidates file to fill all of the vacancies, voters can still force an election through this process. Otherwise, appointments to the Office of Harbor Commissioner shall be made after that date as prescribed by Harbors & Navigation Code §6054.2.

For further information, voters may contact the San Mateo County Registration-Elections Division at (650) 312-5370, or visit www.shapethefuture.org.