(August 31)  In what might be interpreted as a trend toward apathy, in four of San Bernardino County’s cities holding municipal elections in November, the races  for city council or mayor or both will be uncontested.  In Yucca Valley, Needles and Chino, the number of candidates running for city council matches the number of seats up for election, rendering the opinion of those cities’ electorates moot. In Needles and Barstow, there is only one candidate for mayor.
Moreover, in Rialto, Redlands, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, and Colton, the races for city clerk or treasure or both are uncontested.
In Yucca Valley, the only candidates for city council are incumbents George Huntington and Robert Lombardo.
In Yuciapa, six candidates are running for three council positions..
Victorville this year holds the distinction of having the most populated electoral field, with 14 candidates vying for three council positions.
In Upland three candidates are vying for mayor and five others are running for a single council seat.
In Twentynine Palms, three are running for two city council positions.
In Rialto there are six candidates trying for two council openings. Also in Rialto, incumbent Barbara McGee is unopposed for city clerk and treasurer Ed Carrillo likewise will not need to face any competition.
In Redlands, seven candidates are running for two council posts. Appointed incumbent Sam Irwin is unopposed for city clerk.
In Rancho Cucamonga, six candidates are running for two open council positions. Longtime treasurer Jim Frost is unopposed in this year’s race, as is incumbent city clerk Janice Reynolds.
In Ontario, nine candidates are seeking election to two council position. Incumbent treasurer James Mlhiser is unopposed.
In Needles, Tom Darcy, Tony Frazier and Jim Lopez are the only candidates running for three council positions. Mayor Ed Paget is unopposed in his effort to remain in office.
In Montclair, four candidates are running for two council seats.
In Hesperia, 11 candidates are in the running for two council positions.
In Grand Terrace four candidates, all of whom are women, are running for three open council positions.
In Fontana, five candidates are seeking two available council berths.
In Colton, which uses the ward system to fill out its seven member council, three candidates are running in District 6; three are running in District 5  and two are running in District 3. Colton’s incumbent treasurer Aurelio De La Torre has no opponent.
In Chino Hills, five candidates are competing for two council positions.
In Chino, two have thrown their hats in the ring for mayor but no one is opposing city council incumbents Glenn Duncan and Tom Haughey.
In Big Bear Lake, three  are running for two council seats.
In Barstow, the city council race for two openings has attracted six candidates, but in the mayor’s race, only councilwoman Julie Hackbarth-McIntyre is running.  And both Michael Lewis, who is running for treasurer, and incumbent city clerk JoJo Cousino will have a cakewalk.
In the town of Apple Valley, nine are running for two council positions.
In Adelanto, six are seeking election to two posts.
Two of San Bernardino County’s 24 cities, San Bernardino and Loma Linda, have not consolidated their municipal elections with the presidential and gubernatorial general elections.