DISTRICTS READY FOR CAMPAIGNS SULPHUR SPRINGS RACE OVER AS INCUMBENTS UNOPPOSED.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Voters in the Sulphur Springs School District can relax Nov. 8 while their neighbors in surrounding areas go to the polls to elect governing board members.

All three incumbents - Kerry Clegg, Michael Hogan and Sheldon Wigdor - are running unopposed, eliminating the need for ballots, polling places and precinct workers, as well as each candidate saving the cost of printing and distributing campaign materials. All three will automatically receive four-year extensions of their terms on the board that runs Canyon Country's elementary school district.

``The district budgeted $47,000 for the election, which we will be able to include in our revised figures,'' Wigdor said. ``This year we've had to make some difficult decisions and every penny counts. All three of us appreciate the support of the community and we'll definitely take the money saved and put it to good use.''

Wigdor estimates he spent about $1,000 on his campaign in 2001.

In the Newhall district, incumbent John Castagna did not complete his paperwork, despite declaring his candidacy earlier in the filing period. Saugus district board member Jonathan Myl had declared his candidacy, but missed the filing deadline of Aug. 12, resulting in an extension of the filing period for that district, but excluding him from running.

``If the incumbent does not file by 5 p.m. August 12, the filing period is extended for persons other than the incumbent to declare their candidacy,'' registrar-recorder spokeswoman Kathy Salama said.

A drawing was conducted by Secretary of State Bruce McPherson on Thursday to determine the final order of names on the ballot.

Candidates competing for three open seats in the William S. Hart Union High School District are Dennis King, Patricia Hanrion, Steven Herskovitz, Paul Strickland, Danny Douglas Markovich, Joe Messina, Phil Ellis and Tyler Johnstone.

In the Castaic district, contenders include John Kunak, Susan Christopher, Laura Pearson, Steve Teeman, Robert Allen and Angela Marler.

In the Newhall district, Steven Tannehill, Steve Lunetta, J. Michael McGrath, Wendy JoAnne Zinn and Robert N. Jensen are vying for three open seats.

In the Saugus district, the four candidates for three seats are Frederick Paul Tazartes, Douglas A. Bryce, Paul De La Cerda and Judy Umeck.

The Santa Clarita Community College District, which is the governing agency of College of the Canyons, has two candidates for Office No. 1; Jonathan Kraut and Ernie Tichenor. For Office No. 3, the candidates are Ronald A. Vitale, Teresa Todd and Joan MacGregor.

In the Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District, 10 candidates are vying for three available seats on the board, which has been fraught with financial problems and was the subject of recall efforts in the past year. Candidates are Fred Heslep, Michael Richard Hughes, Leona Sexton, Charles Brink, Ron Bird, Larry Layton, Geraldine Rose Davis, Mark Distaso, Max Duran and Deborah S. Jauregui-Rocha.

A filing period for those wishing to be considered as write-in candidates will open Sept. 12 and close at 5 p.m. Oct. 25.

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com