The candidate filing period is being extended to 5pm on Wednesday, August 12 at 5pm AND an eligible incumbent did not file. During this extension period, incumbents who have not already filed, cannot file for candidacy.

When candidates are issued any candidacy document or file a document, it is recorded here. This is NOT an official list of candidates.

The extension period will close on August 12, 2026. Until that time, this is an UNOFFICIAL list of persons interested in running for office in November. The incumbent's name has been provided for information purposes only. 

 

Cities - refer to the city's website for more details

City of Capitola, Councilmember - 3 Seats

Incumbent: Joe Clarke
Incumbent: Margaux Morgan
Incumbent: Susan Westman

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Cami Corvin 5/13/2026 N/A 7/24/2026 7/24/2026
Joe Clarke 6/16/2026 N/A 7/27/2026 7/27/2026
Tory Del Favero 2/20/2026 N/A 7/30/2026 7/30/2026
Peter Wilk 7/21/2026 N/A 7/30/2026 7/30/2026
Troy "TJ" Welch Jr 7/2/2026 N/A 8/5/2026 8/5/2026

 

City of Scotts Valley, Councilmember - 2 Seats

Incumbent: Derek Timm
Incumbent: Greg Wimp

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Michael Zeller 6/1/2026 N/A 7/21/2026 7/28/2026
Greg Wimp 7/30/2026 N/A 7/30/2026 8/6/2026
Danny Reber 7/28/2026 N/A 7/30/2026 8/7/2026

 

Boards of Education & Community Colleges

Santa Clara County Board of Education - Trustee Area 2

Incumbent: Tara Sreekrishnan

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Yan Zhao 5/22/2026 N/A N/A 7/30/2026

 

Santa Cruz County Board of Education - Trustee Area 1

Incumbent: Sue Roth

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Liann Reyes 8/4/2026 N/A N/A 8/4/2026

 

Cabrillo Community College District - Trustee Area 1

Incumbent: Donna Ziel

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
    N/A N/A  

 

Cabrillo Community College District - Trustee Area 6

Incumbent: J Dan Rothwell

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Milissa Ales-Barnicoat 7/16/2026 N/A N/A 7/16/2026
Benjamin Finke 7/27/2026 N/A N/A 8/7/2026
Karen Cogswell 7/31/2026 N/A N/A 7/31/2026

 

School Districts

Aromas-San Juan Unified School District - Trustee Area 3

Incumbent: Kristen Schaefer

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
    N/A N/A  

 

Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District - 3 Seats

Incumbent: Diane Herd
Incumbent: Kendra Turk-Kubo
Incumbent: Joanna Reynolds

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
    N/A N/A  

 

Lakeside Joint School District - 3 Seats

Incumbent: Robert Ewing
Incumbent: Christopher Lamb
Incumbent: Cory White

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
    N/A N/A  

 

Live Oak Elementary School District - 3 Seats

Incumbent: Felicita "Cita" Rasul
Incumbent: Marlize Velasco
Incumbent: Kristin Pfotenhauer

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Kristin Pfotenhauer 7/31/2026 N/A N/A 7/31/2026
Felicita Rasul 8/4/2026 N/A N/A 8/4/2026
Emily Avila 8/5/2026 N/A N/A 8/5/2026

 

Loma Prieta Joint Union School District - 3 Seats

Incumbent: Charlotte L Boisvert-Khandelwal
Incumbent: Nora Kim
Incumbent: Denise Ramon Herrera

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Charlotte L Boisvert-Khandelwal 7/15/2026 N/A N/A 7/15/2026
Courtney Thomas 8/7/2026 N/A N/A 8/7/2026
Denise Ramon Herrera 8/6/2026 N/A N/A 8/6/2026

 

Mountain Elementary School District (Short Term) - 1 Seat

Incumbent: Joshua Williams

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
    N/A N/A  

 

Pacific Elementary School District - 2 Seats

Incumbent: Diana Conner
Incumbent: Cari Napoles

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Chad Herendeen 8/5/2026 N/A N/A 8/5/2026
Diana Conner 8/7/2026 N/A N/A 8/7/2026

 

Pajaro Valley Unified School District - Trustee Area 1

Incumbent: Joy Elaine Flynn Wall

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Andrew Goldenkranz 6/22/2026 N/A N/A  
Robin Sukow 7/28/2026 N/A N/A 7/30/2026
Meilin Obinata 8/10/2026 N/A N/A 8/10/2026

 

Pajaro Valley Unified School District - Trustee Area 5

Incumbent: Olivia Flores

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Jennifer Schacher 8/7/2026 N/A N/A 8/7/2026
Curt S Wilcox 8/7/2026 N/A N/A 8/7/2026

 

Scotts Valley Unified School District - 2 Seats

Incumbent: Lucia Rocha-Nestler
Incumbent: Roger Snyder

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Roger Snyder 8/3/2026 N/A N/A 8/3/2026

 

Fire Districts

Aromas Tri-County Fire Protection District - 3 Seats

Incumbent: Ronald Bruce Mesiroff
Incumbent: George Mortan
Incumbent: Cliff Sloma

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
    N/A N/A  

 

Felton Fire Protection District (Short Term) - 1 Seat

Incumbent: Craig Winter

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Rich Alter 8/7/2026 N/A N/A 8/7/2026

 

Pajaro Valley Fire Protection District - 2 Seats

Incumbent: John R Sampson
Incumbent: Ashley Moules

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Dean Moules 7/21/2026 N/A N/A 7/21/2026
Kendel White 7/30/2026 N/A N/A 7/30/2026
John R Sampson 8/4/2026 N/A N/A 8/4/2026

 

Scotts Valley Fire Protection District - 2 Seats

Incumbent: Kris Hurst
Incumbent: Zach Raney

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Alexander Titus 7/23/2026 N/A N/A 7/23/2026
Tuka Gafari 8/7/2026 N/A N/A 8/7/2026

 

Water Districts

Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency - Division A

Incumbent: Mary B Bannister

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
    N/A N/A  

 

Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency - Division C

Incumbent: Amy Ruth Newell

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Dana M Sales 8/7/2026 N/A N/A 8/7/2026

 

San Lorenzo Valley Water District - 3 Seats

Incumbent: Bob Fultz
Incumbent: Bob Russ
Incumbent: Mark Smolley

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Rick Rogers 2/17/2026 N/A N/A 7/13/2026
Cheryl Adams 4/13/2026 N/A N/A 7/13/2026
Bob Russ 2/23/2026 N/A N/A 7/21/2026

 

Scotts Valley Water District - 3 Seats

Incumbent: Bill Ekwall
Incumbent: Wade Leishman
Incumbent: Ruth Stiles

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Ruth Stiles 7/24/2026 N/A N/A 7/24/2026
Brian Youmans 8/3/2026 N/A N/A 8/3/2026
Brody Knutson 8/3/2026 N/A N/A 8/3/2026

 

Other Districts

La Selva Beach Recreation District - 2 Seats

Incumbent: Kevin J Bell
Incumbent: James Rhodes

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
    N/A N/A  

 

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District - Ward 6

Incumbent: Margaret MacNiven

Candidate Name 501 Filed Signatures in lieu Petition Issued Nomination Petition Issued Declaration of Candidacy Issued
Bryan Beck 7/27/2026 N/A N/A 7/27/2026