November will bring up much to vote on in Stanislaus County

Labor Day is over. Kids are back in school. Campaign signs are sprouting faster than mushrooms under a log. Election season is on.

Last year's historic presidential race boosted Stanislaus County's voter turnout to a record 70 percent. Voting rates this year probably won't match that. But those who cast ballots will have a say in some lively races and important local issues.

For the first time, Modesto voters will choose City Council members from districts. Residents also will be asked to weigh in on new development. As schools grapple with painful budget cuts, the challenges aren't scaring people away from running for school board. There are no fewer than 51 candidates vying for seats in 10 school districts. Among irrigation districts, a crippling drought hasn't dried up the pool of candidates. Modesto Irrigation and Turlock Irrigation districts have drawn multiple contenders.

The race to the ballot box kicks into high gear this week. Modesto City Council candidates and Riverbank mayoral candidates make their public debut at events on Tuesday and Thursday. Also on Thursday, office-seekers will give voters a glimpse of their campaign war chests when they file financial statements.

Here's a roundup of what voters will see on their ballots in November:

Modesto City Council

The city's first district elections will present fresh challenges for those elected. They'll be asked to balance the needs of their district against the needs of a growing city of 210,000.

New council members likely will preside over another bleak budget season with continued cuts to city services. They'll also have to serve the voters who put them in office.

Critics of district elections say the system creates divisions because council members advocate for their neighborhood constituents. Supporters say districts give a voice to residents who have been ignored too long.

In Modesto, they live in District 2, where political newcomers Dave Geer and Al Nava are running. The area, southwest of Highway 99, is home to neighborhoods that struggle with poverty and crime.

District 4, which includes La Loma, Lakewood and part of the airport neighborhood, promises to be a hotly contested race. Activist Robert Stanford faces off against well-funded Joe Muratore and police-backed Jeff Perine. If no one wins a majority of the vote, the race will go to a runoff.

In north-central Modesto's District 5, incumbent council member Kristin Olsen is running against young challenger Joe Cataline.

Modesto Measure M

Voters in the rest of the city have reason to head to the polls as well. All Modesto voters will consider ballot measures on the city's growth. They'll have a chance to say whether five areas outside the city should be considered for eventual annexation into Modesto. The vote isn't a yes or no approval of the developments, it's an advisory measure meant to gauge public support for the proposed developments. The projects could include business parks, industrial development and housing. The proposals likely would not be brought within the city for at least seven years. Residents would have many opportunities to protest the projects before then.

Modesto City Schools

The race for four seats on the Modesto City Schools Board of Education will have plenty of competition with five people challenging four incumbents.

Nancy Cline, 56, is finishing her second term; Steve Collins, 70, is finishing his first term and is a retired educator; Cindy Marks, 47, is completing her third term; and Belinda Rolicheck, 48, executive director of Haven Women's Center in Modesto, is finishing her first term.