"File for Office" can be added to your "To Do" list for Saturday, August 5, now that the Santa Cruz County Elections Department and the City of Santa Cruz plan to stay open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

With the last day to file for office just around the corner, Friday, August 11, the county and city hope the extended Saturday office hours will ensure that all interested persons have an opportunity to file the documents necessary to put their name on the ballot .

Candidates interested in running for any of the 103 district offices on the ballot, including school, fire protection, water, park and recreation, and port district must file a Declaration of Candidacy with the Santa Cruz County Elections Department by 5 p.m. on August 11. The Department is located at 701 Ocean Street, Room 210 in Santa Cruz, phone 454-2060. Regular business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the office will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday for candidate filing. For more information, come to the Elections Department or visit the department's website at www.votescount.com which features the Candidate's Manual as well as a daily update of who has filed for office.

"Running for elective office is a great way to get involved and serve your community," County Clerk Richard W. Bedal said. "For people who manage busy schedules during the week, Saturday candidate filing is just the ticket they need to reserve their place on the ballot."

The City of Santa Cruz has joined the county in keeping its doors open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for candidates running for the four city council seats on the November ballot. City candidates must first obtain a Nomination Petition and collect 20 valid signatures before they can file their Declaration of Candidacy with the City Clerk. The deadline for filing for city council is also 5 p.m. August 11. The Santa Cruz City Clerk's Office is located at 809 Center Street in Santa Cruz, 420-5030.

The cities of Capitola (475-7300), Scotts Valley (440-5602) and Watsonville (728-6005) are open during regular business hours Monday through Friday only.

The following offices are up for election on November 7, 2000:

BOARD OF EDUCATION & COMMUNITY COLLEGES

• Santa Cruz County Board of Education: 5 Governing Board Members, Trustee Areas 2 (short term), 3, 4, 5, 6;
• Cabrillo Community College District: 4 Governing Board Members, Trustee Areas 3, 4, 5, 7 (includes San Benito and Monterey counties);
• West Valley-Mission Community College District: 4 Governing Board Members, 1 in Trustee Area 2, 3 in Trustee Area 3 (Candidates must reside in the area in Santa Clara; however, voters in Santa Cruz County will vote on this contest since governing board members are elected at large).

UNIFIED/HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS

• Aromas-San Juan Unified School District: 3 Governing Board Members (includes San Benito and Monterey counties);
• Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District: 2 Governing Board Members (includes Santa Clara County);
• Pajaro Valley Unified School District: 3 Governing Board Members, Trustee Areas 2, 3 (includes Monterey County) and 6;
• San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District: 2 Governing Board Members, Trustee Areas 3 and 5;
• Santa Cruz City School District: 3 Governing Board Members, 1 in Trustee Area 1 (inside city), 2 in Trustee Area 2 (outside city);
• Scotts Valley Unified School District: 3 Governing Board Members;

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICTS

• Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District: 2 Governing Board Members;
• Happy Valley Elementary School District: 3 Governing Board Members (2 full term; 1 short term)
• Lakeside Joint Elementary District : 2 Governing Board Members;
• Live Oak School District: 2 Governing Board Members;
• Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary School District: 3 Governing Board Members (includes Santa Clara County / 2 full term; 1 short term);
• Mountain Elementary School District: 4 Governing Board Members (3 full term; 1 short term);
• Pacific School District: 1 Governing Board Member;
• Soquel Union Elementary School District: 3 Governing Board Members.

FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS

• Aptos/La Selva Fire: 3 Directors;
• Ben Lomond Fire: 2 Directors;
• Boulder Creek Fire: 2 Directors;
• Branciforte Fire: 4 Directors (3 full term; 1 short term);
• Central Fire: 4 Directors;
• Felton Fire: 4 Directors (3 full term; 1 short term);
• Pajaro Valley Fire: 3 Directors;
• Scotts Valley Fire: 3 Directors;
• Zayante Fire: 3 Directors.

WATER DISTRICTS

• Central Water: 2 Directors;
• Lompico County Water: 3 Directors;
• Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency: 2 Directors; Divisions B & D;
• San Lorenzo Valley Water: 3 Directors (2 full term; 1 short term);
• Scotts Valley Water: 2 Directors;
• Soquel Creek Water: 2 Directors.

PORT DISTRICT

• Santa Cruz Port District: 3 Commissioners

RECREATION DISTRICTS

• Boulder Creek Recreation & Park District: 3 Directors;
• La Selva Beach Recreation District: 4 Directors (3 full term; 1 short term).

MISCELLANEOUS DISTRICTS

• Pajaro Dunes Geologic Hazard Abatement: 2 Directors (elected at large by property owners);
• Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District: 4 Directors (appointed by Board of Supervisors).

CITIES

• Capitola: 2 Councilmembers: Tony Gualtieri and Gayle Ortiz; 1 Treasurer: Glenn Hanna;
• Santa Cruz: 4 Councilmembers: Katherine Beiers (termed out in 2000), Cynthia Mathews (termed out in 2000), Michael Rotkin (termed out in 2000), and Michael Hernandez;
• Scotts Valley: 4 Councilmembers: Randy Johnson, Sheryl Ainsworth, Chuck Walker, Clifford Barrett (2-year term);
• Watsonville: Councilmember, District 1, Rafael Lopez; Councilmember, District 2, Oscar Rios (termed out in 2000); Councilmember, District 6, Judith Doering Nielsen.

For more information, please call the Santa Cruz County Elections Department at 454-2060.

For more information, please call the Santa Cruz County 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.