Local elections are coming; the filing period opened July 16 and runs through Friday, August 10 for 19 seats on seven local elected agencies. For the Yucca Valley Town Council, two terms, those currently held by George Huntington and appointed incumbent Robert Lombardo, are up. On the Twentynine Palms City Council, the terms of John Cole and Joel Klink are up. For Hi-Desert Water District, two seats, those held by Sarann Graham and Bob Stadum, are up, and on the Joshua Basin Water Board, three full-term seats and one short-term seat, filled after the death of Mike Luhrs are up. They are currently held by Bill Long, Mike Reynolds, Mickey Luckman, and appointed incumbent Frank Coate. Joshua Basin General Manager Joe Guzzetta said candidates can choose to run for the long or short term seats. For Morongo Unified School Board, three terms are ending, those of Phyllis Swinnerton, Ron Palmer, and Ed Will. Three terms are also ending on the Copper Mountain College Board—those held by Rita Ramirez-Dean, Owen Gillick, and Dick Rogers. For Hi-Desert Medical Center Board, three seats are open, those held by Paul Hoffman, Pat Cooper, and appointed incumbent Martie Avels. The deadline for filing will be extended to Wednesday, August 15, if an incumbent does not file for re-election. Candidates must be a registered voter within the boundaries of the agency they are running for, at least 18 years of age, and a citizen of the State of California. Information on how to file is available from the secretary of the agencies involved or through the County registrar of voters. A representative from the Registrar of Voters will be at the Yucca Valley Community Center tomorrow from 10 to 3 to help candidates file their election paperwork.
