TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Delano Councilman Sam Ramirez officially launched his 1st District supervisor's campaign Wednesday, picking up a list of registered voters at the Kern County Elections Division.

But at least three other potential candidates for the same seat -- a Kern County sheriff's deputy, a retired U.S. Forest Service ranger and a public relations employee of Southern California Edison -- are already ahead of him.

They quietly filed papers with Elections expressing their intention to run. Two have started raising money.

Supervisor Jon McQuiston, who has not yet announced whether he will run for office, has said he will make an announcement in the near future.

But Ramirez and the other three hopefuls seem to be moving forward no matter what McQuiston's decision might be.

Daures Stephens, 48, a Kern County Sheriff's Department senior deputy living in Lake Isabella, has established a campaign website and held two fundraisers. As of the June 30 financial filing deadline, Stephens had raised $7,194 and change and still had $7,020 of that in the bank.

His campaign website shows him hobnobbing with Assemblyman David Valadao, R-Hanford, at a National Rifle Association event in Ramirez's home base of Delano. Daures, a registered Republican, won a "Remington 700 CDL rifle and a Benelli Nova shotgun," his website stated.

His wife, Lisa, owns the Kern Valley Motors car dealership, the site said.

Stephens, contacted by phone, declined to comment immediately about his candidacy -- saying he was at work. He did not return subsequent calls seeking comment.

David Freeland, 61, a retired U.S. Forest Service district ranger, also intends to run for the 1st District seat.

Freeland retired in 2006 after 34 years and said he started considering running for elected office soon after.

"I want to do my part. I love public service," he said. "I think our county is going to need a seasoned public servant."

The most challenging issue facing all levels of government, he said, is the budget.

"I think we really need to keep an eye on the ball and make sure we don't overspend," Freeland said.

He said he feels it's time for someone new to serve the 1st District.

"I think it's healthy for our political process to have new blood," Freeland said.

Freeland raised $350 in donations and gave himself a $5,000 loan to launch his campaign, according to financial reports for the fundraising period that ended on June 30.

The fourth candidate is Deborah Hess, 54, a public relations professional with Southern California Edison who lives around the corner from Freeland in Mountain Mesa near Lake Isabella.

Hess said Thursday that her campaign is on hold until McQuiston announces whether he will run or not. If he does, Hess said, she intends to support him.

One candidate has also filed papers for the 4th District supervisor's seat.

Current Supervisor Ray Watson has declared he will not run for re-election.

Michael Rouw, a regular observer and occasional commentator at the Kern County Board of Supervisors weekly meetings, has declared his intent to run.

Other potential candidates include Harley Pinson, a local attorney with the Klein, DeNatale, Goldner firm in Bakersfield, who said he's looking at the seat.

"Several community leaders have encouraged me to run and I'm seriously considering it," Pinson said.

He wouldn't indicate when he will make a decision about a run and would not make any additional comments on the subject.