Now that the primary election is in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look ahead to the Nov. 3 general election.
Besides the numerous runoff races that will be determined by voters, the November ballot will include city council seats in all six Merced County cities, plus school and water districts.
The candidate filing period begins Monday, July 13, and the deadline is Friday, Aug. 7, with the exception of races where an incumbent has not filed to run for reelection. In those races, the deadline to file will be Wednesday, Aug. 12.
The Merced County Registrar of Voters has prepared a checklist of requirements for those who are interested in running for a seat.
Melvin Levey, registrar of voters, told The FOCUS he advises potential candidates to schedule an appointment with his office, although walk-ins are OK. The candidate appointments in Merced will happen at the registrar’s facility at 250 E. 15th St.
“(Scheduling appointments) simply allows us to make sure that we have staff on hand to serve them quickly,” Levey said. “The appointments, when they schedule those, that’s where they’re pulling paperwork so that they can get nominating signatures. They’re also turning in candidate statements if they wish to put a statement in the voter guide.”
Levey said will be the first election where his office will hold candidate filing appointments on the county’s Westside. The county has coordinated with the city of Los Banos to hold those appointments at city hall on July 16-17 and Aug. 4-5.
“They can schedule appointments, or they can walk in when our team is out there at (Los Banos) city hall,” Levey said.
Previously, candidates for office on the Westside had to make the drive to Merced in order to set an appointment.
Latest highlights of the November ballots
Merced City Council – Three seats are on the Nov. 3 ballot. District 6 Councilmember Fue Xiong has not said publicly whether he will seek another term in that seat, which represents Bellevue Ranch, El Redondo/San Augustine and several communities generally north of Buena Vista and Bellevue drives.
So far, two candidates have stated their intention to run in District 6: Buhach Colony High teacher John Bliss and businessman Yader Zeledon. Mercedians may remember Bliss because he ran against Delray Shelton for the seat in 2018, when he lost by a mere six votes.
District 4 incumbent Shane Smith is running for re-election, and so far no opposition has stepped forward publicly to challenge him. District 4 includes northeast Merced communities such as McKee and the Yosemite/Parsons Avenue area.
Yang Thao, who was appointed to southwest Merced’s District 2 last year after Ronnie De Anda resigned, is planning on running for the seat. So far, no one else has publicly stepped forward.
Atwater City Council – Atwater will vote for mayor in the November general election. Incumbent Mayor Mike Nelson announced he will seek reelection, the Merced County Times reported. City Council Districts 3 and 4 are also on the ballot, represented by incumbent Danny Ambriz and Brian Raymond, respectively.
City of Los Banos – Los Banos residents will vote for mayor, a role currently held by Michael Amabile, who is running for re-election. Council Districts 2 and 3, represented respectively by Refugio Llamas and Marcus Chavez, are on the ballot.
Merced City Schools – Areas with the three longest-serving school board members will be on the ballot. That includes Priya Lakireddy, the current board president who represents Area 1. Also, Area 3, represented by Allen Brooks, and Area 5, represented by Beatrice McCutchen, are on the ballot.
November runoffs recap
Congressional District 13, incumbent Adam Gray (D-Merced) is running for re-election against former Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln, a Republican.
Assembly District 27 – Former Merced mayor Mike Murphy, a Republican, will face off against Democrat Brian Pacheco, a Fresno County supervisor.
Senate District 14. Democrat Esmeralda Soria, the outgoing representative for Assembly District 27, will compete against Merced City Councilmember Darin DuPont, a Republican.
Senate District 4 – Jaron Brandon, a Democrat and Tuolumne County supervisor, will compete against Alexandra Duarte, a Republican.
Click here for a full list of offices on the November general election ballot.