With the general election scheduled for Nov. 8 this year, political hopefuls have been weighing runs for office. On Wednesday, the extended nomination period closed and no additional persons can file to be official candidates in local races. (Write-in candidates have until Oct. 25 to file for inclusion.)

For a few candidates, the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters is still determining whether the individual qualifies; certification should be completed by the evening of Aug. 19, according to a spokesperson for the Registrar.

The Palo Alto Weekly plans to host election forums with candidates in several races this fall and also will provide coverage of the candidates and their positions leading up to the election. This year, mail-in ballots should be arriving the week of Oct. 10.

Here's a list of those who will be trying to earn voters' approval in Palo Alto and East Palo Alto in November.

PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL - 3 seats open

Alex Comsa, Realtor

Brian Hamachek, entrepreneur/software engineer

Lisa Forsell, creative technology professional

Ed Lauing, executive recruiter

Julie Lythcott-Haims, author/educator

Doria Summa, community volunteer

Vicki Veenker, mediator/patent attorney

PALO ALTO BOARD OF EDUCATION - 2 seats open

Ingrid Campos, businesswoman/mother

Nicole Chiu-Wang, parent/operations strategist

Shounak Dharap, incumbent/attorney

Shana Segal, teacher/school consultant

EAST PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL - 2 seats

Ruben Abrica, incumbent/community college instructor

Jeffrey L. Austin, coach

Martha Barragan, teacher

Mark Dinan, public works commissioner

Webster Lincoln, scientist

Q Smith, planning commissioner

RAVENSWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT - 3 seats

Mele Kasavu Latu, incumbent

Manuel R. Lopez, aerospace engineer

Laura Nunez, educator

Tamara Sobomehin, incumbent

MENLO PARK FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT - 3 seats open

Chuck Bernstein, incumbent

Gary L. Bloom, community volunteer

Robert Jones, incumbent

Dionis Papavramidis, software engineer

EAST PALO ALTO SANITARY DISTRICT -- 2 seats

Ofelia Bello, nonprofit executive director

Dennis Scherzer, incumbent

Vanessa Alexandra Smith, nonprofit program manager

Joan Sykes-Miessi, incumbent

SANTA CLARA COUNTY SHERIFF

Kevin Jensen, retired captain, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office

Robert Jonsen, retired chief of Palo Alto Police Department

FOOTHILL-DE ANZA COLLEGE DISTRICT - District 2

Patrick Ahrens, governing board member, FHDA

FOOTHILL-DE ANZA COLLEGE DISTRICT - District 4

Pearl Cheng, governing board member, FHDA

SANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER - District 7

Rebecca Eisenberg, attorney/sustainable investor

Gary Kremen, incumbent

MIDPENINSULA OPEN SPACE DISTRICT - District 2

Frank Hattler (included in unofficial candidates' roster but not yet certified as an official candidate by the Registrar of Voters)

Yoriko Kishimoto, incumbent

MIDPENINSULA OPEN SPACE DISTRICT - District 5

Karen Holman, incumbent

STATE ASSEMBLY - District 21

Diane Papan - San Mateo Deputy Mayor

STATE ASSEMBLY - District 23

Marc Berman, incumbent

Tim Dec, businessman/environmental advocate

U.S. CONGRESS - 16th District

Anna Eshoo, incumbent

Rishi Kumar, council member/high-tech executive

U.S. CONGRESS - 15th District

David Canepa, San Mateo County Supervisor

Kevin Mullin, California State Assemblymember

In addition, Palo Alto is mounting a measure to institute a business tax and a utility transfer tax; East Palo Alto is proposing an increase in its business tax on residential rental property.