Election season has begun. Late last week, five Monterey County elected officials took out papers needed to run for re-election this year.

On Dec. 30, Supervisors Lou Calcagno and Butch Lindley, and Sheriff Mike Kanalakis picked up “signature in-lieu” forms, which would allow them to qualify for the June ballot. Assessor-County Clerk Stephen Vagnini and Auditor-Controller Mike Miller also picked up paperwork from the county elections office, as did Alejandro Chavez, an aide to Supervisor Fernando Armenta.

Chavez plans to run for the south county District 3 seat, currently occupied by Lindley, who still hasn’t confirmed whether or not he will run. Calcagno, Kanalakis, Vagnini and Miller, on the other hand, had previously announced their re-election bids. [JL]