THRONGS EXPECTED AT POLLS.

Byline: Daily News

SANTA CLARITA - Record turnout is expected today at the polls, where local residents face a range of decisions from the U.S. presidency to the board members who govern Santa Clarita's water supply.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters with questions about their polling places can call the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's Office at [phone] or log on to the registrar's Web site, www.lavote.net.

Also, a nationwide hotline number - (866) OUR-VOTE - will operate from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for people seeking voting information or to report polling place irregularities.

Locally, three water agency board members are seeking re-election. Incumbents Bill Cooper, E.G. ``Jerry'' Gladbach and Bill Pecsi face challenges for their individual seats by Ed Dunn, Paula Olivares and David Lutness, respectively.

Issues in that race include an appellate court ruling that knocked down the water agency's planning document because it did not adequately address the perchlorate contamination of some groundwater, and another ruling that upheld the agency's right to purchase the Santa Clarita Water Co. The water retailer is now a division of the CLWA, the area's water wholesaler.

Voters will decide between U.S. Rep. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, seeking a seventh term, and his Democratic challenger, Fred ``Tim'' Willoughby of Lake Crowley,

State Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, is running against Valencia resident Paul Graber, a Democrat.

Assemblyman Keith Richman, R-Granada Hills, faces a challenge from Democrat Brian Davis of Santa Clarita.

Measure A, a countywide half-percent sales tax to generate about $560 million a year for 5,000 more law enforcement officers, would provide $29 million to reopen a jail at the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic.