The newly drawn cigar-shaped district is anchored by Moreno Valley and stretches east to Desert Hot Springs.

Perris land broker and water board member Marion Ashley has garnered high-profile endorsements and more than $150,000 in campaign funds, making him the favorite to replace retiring Supervisor Tom Mullen.

But observers say Ashley will face scrappy competition from Moreno Valley Mayor Bonnie Flickinger, Moreno Valley City Councilman Charles White and Banning Mayor John Hunt.

"No one's a shoo-in," said Mullen, who supports Ashley. "Charles and Bonnie, they're good campaigners. Marion needs to continue to work hard."

"Roy" Pete Bleckert, also of Moreno Valley, has indicated he may also join the fray. Steve Williams, a Palm Springs police officer, said Friday he was running.

The registrar of voters was still compiling a complete list of candidates late Friday and making sure all hopefuls met the qualifications to run for office.

The deadline to file for county offices was 5 p.m. Friday but was extended to Wednesday in four races where incumbents decided not to run. In races with multiple candidates in which no one wins a majority of the votes in March, there will be a Nov. 5 runoff.

The race for county auditor could supply some political fireworks. At least two candidates will chase the position being vacated by four-term incumbent Anthony Bellanca.

Bellanca's last years have been marked by turmoil over property-tax disbursements and accounting mishaps.

"The things that have been happening in that office have bothered me for a long time, and I decided to do something about it," said candidate Elizabeth Donnelly, a certified public accountant and former Desert Hot Springs councilwoman.

Murrieta Finance Director Teri Ferro was the first to announce her candidacy for auditor. Assistant Auditor Robert Byrd also has said he likely will run for the $116,000-a-year position.

District Attorney Grover Trask won't stay in office without a fight, either. Supervising Deputy District Attorney Brian Sussman is taking on his boss, hoping to end Trask's 20-year reign.

For sheriff, two department insiders apparently will square off: Undersheriff Bob Doyle and Lt. Michael Crichton. Crichton has not filed all his papers but said Friday he would run.

Both hope to succeed Sheriff Larry Smith, who will retire. Doyle has Smith's backing and has already raised at least $130,000.

"I'm just as serious," Crichton said. "I don't have the benefit of (getting) handed the political machinery that exists in the county."

County schools Superintendent Dave Long apparently will face a last-minute challenge from a vocal adversary in his bid for a second term.

Kennedy Rocker, who runs the Indio Charter School, said she was filing papers Friday. The former public school teacher and administrator has criticized Long and the county board of education -- which granted her a charter in 1999 -- as being anti-charter.

Long said he welcomes the challenge.

"I will be running on my 40 years of proven, positive leadership at all levels," said Long, a former teacher and superintendent of the Lake Elsinore Unified School District.

County supervisors Roy Wilson and John Tavaglione each will appear on the ballot unopposed. Both are ending their second terms with nobody willing to run against them.

County Treasurer Paul McDonnell is free of competition to enter a second full term. Assessor Gary Orso also will run unopposed.

Staff writer Louis Knott Ahern contributed to this report.

Reach David Seaton at (909) 320-7820 or dseaton@pe.com