Registrar reports on early fields of supervisorial candidates

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LAKE COUNTY – As the official beginning of the election season nears, potential candidates are stepping forward to show their interest in running for supervisorial seats.


Lake County Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley on Friday gave an update on those county residents who have come forward so far to file a Form 501.


Called a “declaration of intentions,” the candidates must fill out the Form 501 before they can begin to solicit funds for a campaign, said Fridley.


With Supervisor Ed Robey not seeking reelection in 2008, as Lake County News was first to report earlier this year, a big field of potential candidates is forming.


Fridley said so far Voris Brumfield, Jim Comstock, Scott Fergusson, Susanne La Faver and Bobby MacIntyre have filed their Forms 501 for the District 1 seat.


Also up for election in 2008 are Supervisor Anthony Farrington's and Supervisor Rob Brown's seats for Districts 4 and 5, respectively.


Fridley said no one has filed a declaration of intention so far to run against Farrington. In District 5, Robert Stark has filed his form to begin a campaign against Brown.


However, Fridley pointed out that the election season hasn't even technically begun.


She said an individual isn't officially a candidate – even those who are incumbents – until they file all the necessary paperwork and follow the required steps.


From Dec. 28 through Feb. 21, candidates will begin gathering signatures in lieu of paying a filing fee to run for office, said Fridley.


The fee to run, said Fridley, is based on 1 percent of the annual salary of the position they're seeking.


In this year's budget supervisors make $4,807.46 a month, or $57,689.52 annually. That would mean the fee would be just under $600.


However, enough signatures can replace the fee. Fridley said, on average, four signatures equal $1 of the fee, meaning each candidate would need to collect about 2,400 signatures.


If a candidate decides not to collect signatures, they can simply pay the fee and collect nomination signatures.


The nomination period to officially file to run for supervisor will then run from Feb. 11 through March 7, 2008, said Fridley.


“Once someone files as a candidate for supervisor and files their declaration of candidacy, they can't withdraw. their name will be on the ballot,” said Fridley.


If there is an eligible incumbent who doesn't file for office by March 7, as is expected to be the case in District 1, the nomination period will be extended until March 12, said Fridley.


The supervisorial primary will be held in June.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


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