DEADLINE LOOMS FOR NEW VOTERS IN NOV. 3 ELECTION; REGION'S WATER BOARD RACES EXPECTED TO DRAW ATTENTION.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

Monday is the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election that will feature what promises to be a heated battle to fill four seats on the Castaic Lake Water Agency board.

In preparation for a last minute rush, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's Office in Norwalk as well as several post offices will have extended hours today, Sunday and Monday for those who wish to register.

Local voters must be U.S. citizens, residents of Los Angeles County and 18 by election day.

While state Assemblyman George Runner, R-Lancaster, and U.S. Rep. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, are campaigning to retain their seats, voters in the Santa Clarita Valley are expected to closely monitor the race for the four seats up for grabs on the water board.

The board sets policy for the management and distribution of water from the State Water Project to four local retailers - the Newhall County Water District, Valencia Water Co., Santa Clarita Water Co., and the Los Angeles County Waterworks districts that serve the area.

The race should prove heated because a group of environmentalists from the Santa Clarita Organization for Planning the Environment are attempting to unseat the incumbents.

While Division 1 incumbent Randall D. Pfiester faces off against agency watchdog Ed Dunn, the other divisional incumbents will face at least one SCOPE member.

Richard M. Green, Donald Froelich and Richard Balcerzak will all make a bid for re-election against SCOPE's Lynne Plambeck, Michael Kotch, Robert Lathrop and Cam Noltemeyer. Others in the race include Peter Kavounas and Brian Roney.

Monday also will be the first day that absentee voter ballots for the election will be issued. Requests for absentee voter ballots must be received by the Registrar-Recorder's Office no later than Oct. 27.