O candidates, where art ye?

◼ when incumbents in city offices run unopposed, that's not much of a choice. It's kind of sad. It's even more sad when would-be challengers can't seem to get their paperwork together to offer themselves to the public as an alternative. - Times-Standard Editorial

Take Arcata, for example. Last week, the city clerk said three aspiring candidates who filed papers on Aug. 10 did not meet the requirement of gathering and presenting 20 valid signatures. This means that incumbents Mayor Michael Winkler, Vice Mayor Shane Brinton and Councilwoman Susan Ornelas will be the only named candidates on the ballot.

This from a town that's seen addressless candidate Geronimo Garcia on the ballot. Twice.

...Trinidad City Councilwoman Julie Fulkerson and Humboldt County Department of Public Health education specialist Maria Bauman are alone in filing for council seats currently held by Fulkerson and Councilman Mike Morgan, respectively, and may be appointed by the council, skipping the ballot altogether....

In Rio Dell, the same story: Incumbents Frank Wilson and Jack Thompson were the only candidates to file paperwork for two open city council seats. The city may be spared an election -- and a choice....

In Eureka, Councilwoman Melinda Ciarabellini is running for the 4th Ward seat.

Against nobody....

◼ All Three Council Challengers Fail To Qualify For Ballot, Election Still On - Kevin L. Hoover/Arcata Eye

All three non-incumbents who had filed papers – Jolian Kangas, Valerie Rose-Campbell and Mark Sailors – did not meet the 20-signature threshold, and will not be on the ballot.

Just 11 of the 27 signatures Kangas supplied were valid. Rose-Campbell had 16 of 30 verified. Sailors scored 15 out of 26.