Four seats on Midpen open space district board up for election in November

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has four board seats up for grabs in the Nov. 3 general election. Members of the public interested in running for office have until 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, to file the required paperwork.

As of July 24, incumbent Yoriko Kishimoto was the only candidate to file papers for the Ward 2 seat, which includes parts of Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto and Stanford. Similarly, incumbent Karen Holman was uncontested for the Ward 5 seat, which encompasses areas of East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Mountain View and Palo Alto.

No nomination papers had yet been filed for the Ward 6 seat, currently held by Margaret MacNiven. MacNiven represents Atherton, La Honda, Ladera, Loma Mar, Menlo Park, North Fair Oaks, Pescadero, Portola Valley, Redwood City, West Menlo Park and Woodside on the Midpen board.

Candidate filing for non-incumbents is extended only if an incumbent does not file nomination papers by the deadline.

Each of Midpen’s seven directors serve four-year terms on the board, representing the residents of a geographic area, or ward, within Midpen’s boundaries. Directors help set strategic direction for the agency, overseeing policies, annual budgets and work plans. The board generally holds its regular public meetings on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 7 p.m.

Eligible board candidates must be at least 18 years old and be registered to vote and reside within the ward they seek to represent. Potential candidates are required to gather signatures from 50 registered voters in their ward on a nomination form provided by Midpen’s clerk.

To file nomination papers, contact Midpen’s clerk at 650-691-1200 or [email protected] to make appointments to receive and submit the required paperwork. For more information, visit openspace.org/election-information.