Local Election Season Kicks Off, Filing Opens

The election season for local races is here. Since Piedmont held a municipal election in February, there are no city or Piedmont Unified School District races on the November  ballot — but Piedmont voters will have a say in choosing board members for some special districts that include the city within their borders.

Piedmonters will also be voting on a municipal services tax (parcel tax) in the November general election.

Piedmont City Clerk John Tulloch noted Monday that the city will not be able to provide the rapid updates to election returns that residents have enjoyed in the past several municpal elections.

Because Nov. 6 is a general election with very large numbers of precincts and voters, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters won't be able to provide local figures before they are posted on the Registrar's website, Tulloch said. It may be one to two days after the election before local precinct returns are available, he said.

Those who'd like to run in the Nov. 6 election for local office in Alameda County could begin taking out nomination papers on Monday, July 16. Papers must be turned back in no later than Aug. 10.

READERS: What issues do you think candidates should address during the campaign? Tell us  in the comments section below.

AC Transit

The current terms of Greg Harper, whose Ward 2 includes Piedmont, and H. E. Christian Peeples, one of two at-large members of the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District's board of directors, expire this year.

BART

The board seat for the Bay Area Rapid Transit District's Ward 3, which includes Piedmont, is currently vacant.

East Bay Regional Park District

The current term of John Sutter, who represents Piedmont and other portions of Ward 2 on the park district's board of directors, expires this year.