Grab Nomination Papers
By
Miles Shuper
Tulare County - The filing period for candidates in Tulare County for the June Primary election is off to a busy start for the Tulare County Elections Department.
So far, the race for Fourth District Supervisor could be the most hotly contested with four potential challengers to incumbent Steve Worthley.
Ruben Macareno of Visalia officially announced his candidacy, challenging Worthley who is seeking his fourth term. Donny Barton of Badger, Maggie Florez of Visalia and Erica Paine of Ivanhoe have also taken out nomination papers to run against Worthley.
Worthley and District Two Supervisor Mike Ennis are the only two supervisors up for re-election. Cameron Hamilton, who ran against Ennis as a write-in candidate four years ago, is making another run.
Macareno issued a statement indicating he believes he can do a better job of serving “all members of a diverse district and offer a different viewpoint and voice than what the carbon copy slate of members offer today. I will encourage transparency and increase communications efforts to reach all residents, starting with moving the board of supervisors meetings from mornings to a timeslot in the early evenings when most residents can attend.”
Macareno, a professional fundraiser, said “I, like most residents, feel our current board has damaged the confidence in our local system of government and has to be restored. I recognize that this position is one of public service, not self-service. As for the incumbent, four terms is simply too much.”
Macareno, who was raised and educated up to high school in Tulare County, said he has never lost sight of home, “even when I worked in Washington, D.C. or Los Angeles. I graduated from Los Angeles City College with a degree in modern political science. While pursuing my political science degree at California State University Los Angeles, I was named an alumni scholar.”
He has served as a stringer and part-time sports writer for area newspapers and worked for two congressmen and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials in Washington, D.C. He also worked at the Los Angeles Times as a newsroom coordinator.
The June primary promises to be a lively one not only in Tulare County but statewide with no shortage of candidates.
Statewide, voters will select candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, controller, treasurer, attorney general, insurance commissioner, members of the board of equalization as well as state Senate and Assembly candidates. Voters also will be deciding on U.S. Senate and Congressional candidates for the November general election.
Locally, Assemblywoman Connie Conway, Assemblyman Danny Gilmore and State Sens. Dean Florez and Roy Ashburn and Congressmen Devin Nunes and Jim Costa are up for re-election.
Tulare County Sheriff Bill Wittman is being challenged by Woodlake Police Chief John Zapalac in a repeat showdown. Both men announced their candidacy months ago.
District Attorney Phil Cline will
seek re-election and Rita Woodard, auditor-controller/ treasurer-tax collector,
has announced she is running again. There has been no indication that
Assessor Gregory Hardcastle will seek re-election.
Porterville has the only city council election in Tulare County, with
two seats open. Six Tulare County judges are up for re-election.
Petition forms may be picked up from the Tulare County Elections Office, 5951 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia. The Elections Office is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Friday. The nomination period opened Monday and closes Friday, March 12.
The deadline for signatures-in-lieu for judicial office candidates is Feb. 10. The nonrefundable filing fee and/or signatures-in-lieu must be presented at the time the candidate files a Declaration of Intent. Judicial Office Declaration of Intent filing period opens Feb. 1.
The deadline for signatures-in-lieu
for federal and local office candidates is Feb. 25. The nonrefundable
filing fee and/or signatures-in-lieu must be presented at the time the
candidate picks up the nomination packet during the nomination period.
For more information, call the Elections Office at 624-7300.
The above story is the property
of The Valley Voice Newspaper and may not be reprinted without explicit
permission in writing from the publisher.