BUTTE COUNTY – The filing period for local candidates ended at 5 p.m. Friday, kicking off elections for city council and school board seats in November.

Both the Chico and Oroville councils have contested races in each district up for election, as does the Chico Unified School District board in each trust district. The Butte County Office of Education has trust districts for the first time, and two of the three districts on the ballot have unopposed candidates, while the other has two current, at-large board members running against each other.

With the exception of candidates who have submitted their qualifying papers, there were no changes in the four races for the Chico City Council seat as of the deadline.

District 1 is represented by businessman Michael Johnson and former city councilman and police chief Mike O’Brien. Since incumbent Sean Morgan did not seek another term, the deadline for this district is Wednesday (August 14).

In District 3, incumbent Dale Bennett must retaliate against City Commissioner Monica McDaniel. In District 5, which technically has no incumbent because Andrew Coolidge fell within the boundaries of District 1 due to redistricting, Chico State students Katie Hawley and Melissa Lopez-Mora are competing for the vacant seat. In District 7, incumbent Deepika Tandon is running against City Commissioner Bryce Goldstein.

Three seats on the Oroville City Council are up for election, and some familiar names are returning to the ballot.

District C, where Councilwoman Krysi Riggs has decided not to run for re-election, has former Mayor Chuck Reynolds and former Councilwoman Linda Draper, as well as former candidate Ricky Gabriel. Councilmen Scott Thomson and Janet Goodson are seeking re-election – Thomson in District D against Bryan Williams and Goodson in District E against Levi Kniff.