Extra

Looking only at candidates for office who have taken out preliminary papers, it appears as if the rent board is the most contested race—actually, it is the only contested race—to date. 

There are five open slots on the Rent Stabilization Board and six people have taken out signature-in-lieu papers. While the official start date for local candidates to file papers for the Nov. 4 election is not until July 14, candidates can collect signatures from May 30 through July 24 instead of paying the $150 filing fee. Each valid signature is worth $1. 

The newest candidate to take out signature-in-lieu papers for rent board is Judy Shelton, former volunteer coordinator of the Berkeley No on Proposition 98 campaign. Others running for the board are incumbents Jesse Arreguin, Eleanor Walden and Jack Harrison, former rent board member Robert Evans and Nicole Drake, Councilmember Linda Maio’s aide.  

Zachary Runningwolf, who ran for mayor in 2006 and is a constant critic of Mayor Tom Bates, took out papers Monday to run for mayor. He is the only announced mayoral candidate to date. 

Two candidates are running for the two open school board seats: incumbent School Board President John Selawsky and Beatriz Levya-Cutler, BAHIA executive director. 

Incumbent councilmembers appear to be running unopposed: Darryl Moore, District 2, Max Anderson, District 3 and Laurie Capitelli, District 5. Susan Wengraf, aide to Councilmember Betty Olds, is running for the District 6 seat. Olds is not running for reelection. 

For updates as candidates file for the elections, go to http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=14112.