Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

County Gears Up For Three Or More Elections in 1998

Political season is underway for 1998.

According to Davis Benton, chairman of the Nevada County Democratic Central Committee, there will be four or more elections held this year.

The first battle for public offices will be played out during the primaries. Benton said the 1998 primary election will be held May 19.

However, to get on the playing field and be in the game, candidates will have to pay their filing fees during the filing period of March 17-31. Benton said the filing period will begin at noon, March 17, ending two weeks later at noon, March 31.

Those planning to seek office in Nevada County will pay their filing fees at the Nevada County Courthouse. The fees, Benton said, will be set later by the Nevada County Election Commission.

Polling locations have been checked to see if they meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Benton said at this time there are seven or eight locations out of compliance.

Repairs will have to be made at these sites so handicapped people can get in and out easily to cast their ballots. The main problem, according to Benton, is the lack of ramps and pads for wheelchair bound voters.

It is possible, he said, some polling places would have to be moved should the sites not be upgraded to meet the ADA requirements. "I feel like all of them will make it (get in compliance)," he said.

Along with the races for city and county offices, Benton reminds voters there will also be a school election in September, along with the general election on the first Tuesday in November.

Should a runoff be needed for any office in the primaries, the candidates will have three weeks longer to campaign and get their message across. Benton said a runoff election would be held June 9.

Those offices open for the election include all county offices, including those seats for justice of the peace on the Nevada County Quorum Court, along with the race for state representative, a seat currently held by Sandra Rodgers.