Nov. 4 is shaping up to be a big election day in Placer County, with 15 city council seats up for grabs.
Political hopefuls have until Aug. 8 to file their candidacy papers.
In Rocklin – where voters in February weathered a heated contest over the fate of Clover Valley – three longtime City Council incumbents may face challengers looking to shake up the status quo. Members of Rocklin Citizens for Council Change are interviewing candidates to support in the November election, hoping to replace Mayor Brett Storey and Councilmen Peter Hill and George Magnuson. So far, the group has interviewed two people – Dan Defoe and Angela Torrens – and has scheduled an interview with a third potential candidate, said Chairman Tony Rakocija.
Committee leaders plan to announce which candidates they'll support before the filing deadline.
"We have a number of questions we're asking candidates concerning various issues we feel strongly about, such as issues people in Rocklin have raised over the past few years," Rakocija said. "Issues like the lack of a downtown, the amount of increased traffic in town and street maintenance."
As of Friday, only Hill and Storey had pulled candidacy papers, according to the Rocklin City Clerk's Office.
Roseville also has three council seats open in November. Incumbent John Allard is up for re-election and has already pulled candidacy papers for a second term, according to the City Clerk's Office. Carol Garcia, who was appointed to fill a vacant spot on the council last year, must run to keep her seat.
Although term limits will force Councilman Richard Roccucci out of office this year, his wife, former Mayor Pauline Roccucci, announced last month that she plans to run for his seat.
Allard, Roccucci, Roseville City School District trustee Rene Aguilera and Planning Commission member Sam Cannon were the only people to pick up candidacy papers as of Friday.
Since at least one incumbent won't be running, the candidate filing period in Roseville will be extended to Aug. 13.
Lincoln City Council candidates also will have an extended filing period.
Mayor Primo Santini, who has served on the council for eight years and steered the city through its 50-year general plan update, has decided not to seek a third term.
"I live in the same community my family has lived in for three generations, so I'm sure I'll be involved in some way," Santini said. "But I don't have any specific plans at this point. ...
"I ran because I do think people should be involved in their communities and that community service in one form or the other is important."
So far, incumbent Spencer Short, Allen Cuenca and Paul Joiner have picked up candidacy papers, according to City Clerk Pat Avila.
Councilman Tom Cosgrove said earlier that he plans to run for another term.
The Lincoln city treasurer's seat is also open, and incumbent Sheron Watkins has pulled her candidacy papers, Avila said.
Two Auburn City council seats will be up for election. The seats are held by Bob Snyder, who has announced that he will not seek re-election, and Keith Nesbitt. Both are four-year veterans of the council. Nesbitt has not pulled candidacy papers, according to the Placer County Elections Office. The only person who has taken out papers so far is challenger William Kirby.
Also up for election in Auburn are positions of city clerk, held by Joseph Labrie, and city treasurer, held by George Williams, who has pulled candidacy papers.
Loomis Town Clerk Crickett Strock said two council positions are up for election. The seats are held by 16-year council veteran Rhonda Morillas and Tom Millward, both of whom have taken out candidacy papers.
Challenger Gary Liss also took out papers.
Strock said her position – town clerk – is up for election, as is the town treasurer position held by Roger Carroll. Carroll took out papers. Strock has yet to do so.
Colfax will have three City Council seats to fill.
Veteran Councilwoman Sherrie Blackmun has announced she will not seek re-election, and Councilwoman Sharon Gieras, whose four-year seat is up in November, resigned earlier this month. The council plans to appoint someone in August to serve in Gieras' place until the election.
Also resigning this month was Councilman Jim Albright, who had two years left on his term.
Call The Bee's Jennifer K. Morita, (916) 773-7388. Staff writer Art Campos contributed to this report.
