Races Canceled for Lack of Candidates

School board candidates in three districts will take office without ever appearing on the ballot because no one filed to run against them by the filing deadline Wednesday.

Because they would have appeared on the ballot unopposed during the general election in November, the candidates in the three school districts--Brea-Olinda Unified, Los Alamitos Unified and Centralia--will assume the offices, an election official said.

In addition, no one filed candidacy papers to fill open seats on two Surfside governing boards, which means the County Board of Supervisors will appoint members to fill the community services and storm water districts serving the gated Seal Beach community, election officials said.

In total, 26 of 78 potential local elections this November were canceled because of a lack of candidates.

A total of seven races--the three school board elections, plus four special district elections--were canceled Wednesday. Last week, elections were canceled for six school boards and 13 special districts.

In addition to the three school board elections canceled Wednesday, elections were called off last week for Saddleback Community College District, Capistrano Unified School District, Buena Park School District, Cypress School District, La Habra City School District and the Magnolia School District.

Candidacy papers were due at 5 p.m. Wednesday to fill openings on 27 city councils, school boards and special districts. The filing deadline was extended after the incumbents failed to file for reelection last week.

The filing period for the other local races on the Nov. 6 ballot ended Friday.

School board candidates who will assume office without an election are: Barbara R. Paxton, homemaker, Brea-Olinda Unified; Keith Polakoff, a graduate-studies dean, Los Alamitos Unified; and Karen L. Blake, teacher, Centralia School District.

Other candidates who city and county officials reported filing since Friday for the ballot are as follows.

For the Orange mayoral race: Juan Pablo Serrano-Nieblas, environmental engineer; E. William Berke, retirement fund consultant/self-employed; Robert Boice, businessman/self-employed; Gene Beyer, councilman/retired principal; Marshall Norris, retired county official.

City council races:

Buena Park: Alfred Whitmore, retired; Larry Wieck, insurance broker; Max Schulman, businessman.

Cypress: Joyce Nicholson, real estate agent.

Huntington Beach: Steven J. Roy, carpenter; Edward G. Mountford, planning commissioner/businessman; Tony Passannante, pharmacist/business owner; Earle W. Robitaille, retired police chief.

Laguna Beach: Beth Leeds, artist; Steven Leonard, computer attorney.

Mission Viejo: John Connelly, attorney/Saddleback College trustee; David H. Mitchell, retired; Marilyn Macdougall, teacher; Robert Breton, state deputy attorney general.

San Clemente: Simon G. Zervos, retired; Scott R. Walker, businessman; Truman Benedict, retired/former Capistrano Unified School District superintendent; Carolyn Hamilton, attorney; Thomas L. Padberg, consultant.

San Juan Capistrano: Joe Soto, president of the Soto Co.; Gerhard D. Peters, student; Robert J. Davies, systems analysis consultant; Jerry V. Harris, educator; Jeff Vasquez, photographer/filmmaker; Mark B. Clancey, telecommunications contractor; Collene Thompson Campbell, businesswoman/administrator.

Stanton: Harry Dotson, planning commissioner.

Villa Park: Joe Barsa, businessman; Nick Rogers, commercial realty.

In school district races, newly filed candidates are:

Anaheim Union High School District: Beverly Yourstone, school administrator/parent; R. A. (Molly) McGee, businesswoman/educational consultant.

In the special-district races, new candidates are:

Midway City Sanitary District: Anthony Nelson Jr., incumbent; Kent J. Credit, real estate broker.

Yorba Linda Water District: Charles (Chuck) Howe, businessman/administrator.