Three Moraga-Orinda Fire District board seats are up for election this November. The races for two of the seats - Division 3 and Division 4 - are uncontested. Only the Moraga Division 1 race will appear on the November ballot: Nate Bell will challenge incumbent Kathleen Famulener.
Because the two races are uncontested, the Board of Supervisors has the option to appoint qualified candidates Brad Barber to the Orinda Division 4 seat and Steve Anderson to the seat in Division 3, which includes parts of both Moraga and Orinda. The supervisors could require that the uncontested races be placed on the ballot, but according to Contra Costa County elections chief Joe Canciamilla, in the interest of saving money they rarely do.
What if voters wish to challenge the presumed board appointee with a write-in candidate? "They can circulate a petition and request a special election," said Canciamilla. "But it is a very expensive process."
Supervisor Candace Andersen said that the appointments would be announced at one of the regular Board of Supervisors meetings.
N. Marnell
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