SCHOOL BOARD RACE LINEUPS SET; SULPHUR SPRINGS DISTRICT ELECTION MAY BE CANCELED.

Byline: Mary Schubert / Daily News Staff Writer

The lineup for the Nov. 4 election is finally complete in six local school board races, with equal numbers of candidates and open seats in two districts and incumbents bowing out of several races.

The lack of challengers in the Sulphur Springs school board race will likely prompt cancellation of the election, with incumbents Sheldon Wigdor, Kerry Clegg and Steve Sturgeon being automatically granted new four-year terms. Superintendent Robert Nolet, however, said that decision lies with the county and the state, not the school district.

``The Secretary of State's Office can just basically declare them elected, because there was no opposition and they were the previously elected incumbents,'' Nolet said. ``Two or three elections ago, it happened where the incumbents were the only ones who ran.''

Still, what the voters lose in a variety of candidate choices could also work out in Sulphur Springs' favor. ``It would be beneficial to the district because we'll save between $60,000 and $70,000 in election costs,'' Nolet said.

School begins Sept. 4 in the district, and Nolet said the dearth of candidates could be evidence of satisfaction with the board. A recent parent attitude survey, he noted, was generally positive.

``I would see it as a validation of support from the community here in Canyon Country,'' Nolet said.

Candidate filings closed Wednesday night at the Los Angeles County registrar's headquarters.

The deadline had been extended in four races when the following incumbents didn't file for re-election: George Aliano in the William S. Hart Union High School District, Mike McCabe and Susan Edwards in the Newhall School District, Dirk Gosda in the Castaic School District and Betty Lund in the Saugus School District.

The extra few days, however, brought no new hopefuls to the Castaic or Hart races. The Castaic contenders will be incumbents Nora Emmons and Irene Massey, along with challengers Gregory Ferrier, Wendy Gingrich and Carl Seel vying for three seats.

The Hart ballot will have incumbents William Dinsenbacher and Patricia Hanrion, along with challengers Dennis King and Gloria Mercado vying for three seats.

Over in the Newhall district, incumbent John Castagna and new candidates Steve Tannehill and Sue Neiberger will seek election to three seats.

The Saugus school board contenders, meanwhile, will be incumbents Douglas Bryce and Judy Umeck, seeking four-year terms, and Eileen Connolly, running unopposed for a two-year term.

The challengers for the four-year Saugus seat are Gary Murr and Jonathan Myl, the latter a certified public accountant who filed his candidacy papers after the original deadline was extended.

Myl, 39, of Saugus was one of the people considered last year for appointment to the school board when a member's resignation left a vacant seat. Umeck won that appointment.

Running for the Santa Clarita Valley Community College District board of trustees will be challengers Ernie Tichenor and Richard Peoples, along with incumbent John Hoskinson - all competing for the same seat - and incumbent Joan MacGregor, running unopposed for the other seat.