Filing begins July 18 for candidates seeking 11 positions on five Yorba Linda governing boards

A four-week filing period begins July 18 for candidates seeking 11 positions representing Yorba Linda on five governmental bodies scheduled for the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

Contentious elections are expected for at least three of the public agencies, based on current political activity and recent social media postings. Spirited battles are anticipated in three City Council contests and for two director slots at the Yorba Linda Water District.

And it's possible a recall targeting water board directors Bob Kiley and Gary Melton could be added to the November ballot. Also, feisty disputes with council and water board incumbents might spill over into the usually staid school district election for Placentia-Yorba Linda trustees.

Here's a breakdown of the upcoming electoral engagements:

--Two City Council incumbents began raising funds for re-election runs several months ago, joined by Parks and Recreation Commission chair Tara Campbell for a slate, with three opponents expected to be endorsed by the one-year-old Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association.

In the race for second terms are Gene Hernandez and Craig Young, who were elected to the county Republican Central Committee last month. Young topped a 15-candidate field for six positions with 10,248 GOP votes, 4,474 from Yorba Linda. Mark Schwing is not expected to seek a sixth term.

--Two water board positions now held by 24-year director Mike Beverage and 12-year director Ric Collett will be on the ballot, with the taxpayers group expected to endorse two challengers. The 2012 and 2014 elections didn't draw opponents, so all five incumbents continued in office.

If a recall qualifies and is consolidated with the Nov. 8 ballot, the taxpayers group is expected to endorse replacement candidates. Candidates favorable to the incumbents also might file for the recall ballot, a tactic used by anti-recall forces in a failed attempt to oust two councilmen in 2014.

--Three Placentia-Yorba Linda school trustee positions now held by Judi Carmona, Carol Downey and Eric Padget are scheduled for the ballot. They were appointed to new terms

after nobody ran against them four years ago.

The usually low-key trustee contest heated up last month when two leaders of the taxpayers association posted comments on the group's Facebook page critical of Carmona, the current board president.

--Four North Orange County Community College District trustee positions are slated for the ballot, including two slots representing this city, now held by 17-year trustee Tony Ontiveros of Anaheim Hills, who represents most of the city, and appointed trustee Jacqueline Rodarte of Anaheim, who represents a tiny southwest slice of the city.

--One of four Orange County Water District positions up for election is that of 12-year director Roger Yoh of Buena Park, who represents this and four other cities on the board in charge of groundwater supplies.