Time to vote

With the race already (groan) underway for next year's presidential election, the Nov. 6, 2007, election may not be high on most folks' to-do lists. However, this "off year" election will wrap up a lot of nitty-gritty business that needs doing in Marin and Sonoma counties. The good news for Napa County voters is that they get the day off; Napa County doesn't have a Nov. 6 ballot. So Napans can sit back, relax and save their election energies for next year.

In Marin and Sonoma, voters will be selecting representatives to serve in a wide range of offices, such as mayor or sanitary board member. Current North Bay Bohemian policy is to not make recommendations in individual local races, but we will provide an overview of what's on the ballot.

One interesting legal note is that special districts which raise money through voter-approved taxes then have to officially ask voters to raise their appropriations limits so they can spend the funds that have been collected. Elections to do just that are being held in the Bodega Bay Fire Protection, Forestville Fire Protection, Inverness Public Utility, Mesa Park (Firehouse Community Park Agency) and Reed Union School districts.

Marin voters will also be choosing candidates to serve on the governing boards of Bel Marin Keys Community Services District, Kentfield School District, Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District, Marin Community College District, Mill Valley School District, Novato Fire Protection District, Novato Sanitary District, North Marin Water District, Reed Union School District, Ross School District, the San Rafael Board of Education, Shoreline Unified School District, Southern Marin Fire Protection District, Stinson Beach Fire Protection District, Tamalpais Community Services District, Tiburon Fire Protection District and Tiburon Sanitary District.

City Council members will be selected in the Marin County towns of Fairfax, Mill Valley, Novato and San Rafael; Fairfax and San Anselmo are each electing a town clerk; and San Rafael is choosing a mayor, city attorney and clerk/assessor.

Throughout Sonoma County, representatives are being chosen as board members for Bodega Bay Fire Protection District, Bodega Bay Public Utility District, the Mendocino County Board of Education, Monte Rio Recreation and Park District, Occidental Community Services, Point Arena Joint Union High/Arena Union School District and Shoreline Unified School District. And the Sonoma Valley Unified School District is hoping two-thirds of its voters approve a six-year, $91 parcel tax.

Whew. For an "off-year" that's a lot of elections with a lot of potential impact.

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