Candidate filing opens Monday for candidates seeking nomination or election to one of the offices on the June 6, 2006 Primary Election ballot.

The deadline for candidates to file is 5 p.m. on March 10, unless the incumbent does not file, then the deadline is extended to Wednesday, March 15. Candidates must satisfy the filing fee prior to taking out Nomination Papers. The deadline for securing signatures in-lieu of the filing fee is February 23. Candidates for party Central Committees and County Councils do not have to pay a filing fee.

Offices on the June ballot include:

• U.S. Senate

• 14th and 17th Congressional Districts;

• 27th and 28th Assembly Districts;

• State Board of Equalization, 1st District;

• Governor;

• Lieutenant Governor;

• Secretary of State;

• Controller;

• Treasurer;

• Attorney General;

• Insurance Commissioner;

• State Superintendent of Public Instruction;

• County Supervisors in the 3rd and 4th Districts;

• 2 Superior Court Judges;

• Assessor-Recorder;

• Auditor-Controller;

• County Clerk;

• Treasurer-Tax Collector;

• County Superintendent of Schools;

• District Attorney-Public Administrator;

• Sheriff-Coroner;

• Democratic, Republican, Green, and American Independent Party County Central Committees or County Council in each Supervisorial District;

• Peace and Freedom and Natural Law Party County Central Committees.

After obtaining the number of qualified signatures to place a candidate’s name on the ballot, all candidates must file a Declaration of Candidacy. At the time the Declaration of Candidacy is filed, candidates have the option of filing and paying for a Candidate’s Statement of Qualifications to appear in the June 6, 2006 Voter Information Pamphlet mailed to all registered voters in Santa Cruz County.

A “Candidate’s Handbook” detailing filing fees, candidate qualifications, deadlines, candidate’s statements of qualifications, and other important candidate information for the June 6, 2006 election is available from the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department at 701 Ocean St., Room 210, Santa Cruz, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 831-454-2060. The “Candidate’s Handbook” is also available online at www.votescount.com . In addition, a daily update of candidates who have taken out papers or have filed documents is available online at www.votescount.com as well as other important information regarding the June Primary.

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For more information, please call the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department at 831-454-2060, visit our office at 701 Ocean St., Room 210 in Santa Cruz, or check out our website at www.votescount.com.