LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office has released the final list of candidates for county races that will be on the presidential primary election ballot, including uncontested sheriff’s and judicial races, and the races for three supervisorial seats.
The final deadline for the candidate filing period ended last week. This year, it came months earlier due to the presidential primary falling in March, not June as is the case with state primaries in other years.
The list of final candidates shows a key race — that for Lake County sheriff — as being unopposed.
This year, Lt. Lucas Bingham is the only candidate to throw his hat in the ring to be the next sheriff.
Sheriff Rob Howe, who the Board of Supervisors appointed a year ago to fill a portion of the term Brian Martin was elected before his retirement, will serve until the start of 2025. He had pledged not to run for the office and made good on that promise.
Bingham, a Lakeport resident and a longtime sheriff’s employee, also interviewed with the board to fill the sheriff's job last year.
A native of Lake County, Bingham served in the United States Air Force before returning to raise his children in the community. His entire law enforcement career has taken place in Lake County. His term will expire in January 2029.
Running unopposed for reelection this year are Lake County Superior Court judges Michael Lunas, for Department 1, and Andrew Blum, for Department 3.
Because they are running unopposed, Blum’s and Lunas’ names will not appear on the ballot, pursuant to California Elections Code section 8203(a). Instead, they will be considered elected to new six-year terms which will expire in January 2031.
One judicial seat will be contested in the coming year: Judge Shanda Harry, in her first reelection bid, will face challenger and local attorney Anna Gregorian for the Department 4 seat.
For the three supervisorial seats on the ballot, all will be contested.
For District 1, representing the south county, from Middletown up to a portion of the city of Clearlake, candidates on the ballot will be Bren Boyd, a chef and proprietor; John Hess, who serves on the Lake County Planning Commission; Sean Millerick, a small-business owner who serves as vice president of the Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District Board; rancher and business owner Helen Owen; and small business owner and winemaker Bryan Pritchard.
In the race for District 4 supervisor, which serves the greater Lakeport area, the final group of candidates are Scott Barnett, a consultant and Lakeport Planning Commission member; Laura McAndrews Sammel, chief executive officer of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce; Brad Rasmussen, chief of police for the city of Lakeport; and educator and parent, Chris Read.
For the final race, District 5, which serves the Kelseyville and Cobb areas, incumbent Jessica Pyska will be challenged by Daniel “Boone” Bridges, a business owner and builder.
The presidential primary takes place March 5.
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Election 2024: Bingham unopposed for sheriff, supervisor and judge slates finalized
- Elizabeth Larson
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