Filings For Northwest Arkansas Municipal Elections Begins Today

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Washington and Benton county residents can file petitions to run for mayor, city council and other city positions starting today.

About two dozen mayoral seats and more than 100 city council positions are open for the Nov. 4 election. Would-be candidates must file by noon Aug. 15.

"The noon (requirement) is a big thing," said Becky Lewallen, Washington County clerk, noting some residents have lost their chance at candidacy by just an hour or two. There's no filing fee, she added.

Mayors are up for election in the two counties in every city except Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale. City council members are up in every city, but cities vary on whether half or all of the council will be on the ballot.

In Washington County, all except Fayetteville and Springdale have the entire council up for grabs.

Benton County is more evenly split: Bella Vista, Gentry, Lowell, Pea Ridge, Rogers and Bethel Heights have part of their city council positions open this November.

The municipal process is slightly more complicated than for county or some state positions. Like others, municipal candidates must provide personal information and statements of financial interests and assets. They have the added step of turning in signatures of eligible voters.

In first-class cities, generally with more than 2,500 people, candidates need 30 signatures to qualify. Second-class cities need 10 signatures.

Siloam Springs has the city administrator form of government with a mayor and board of directors. Its filing period is over, and municipal votes will be part of the November election.

County and city clerks will provide the needed forms for candidates and accept the forms after they've been filled out. Municipal positions open include:

Benton County

• Bella Vista: mayor, city attorney, city clerk, one alderman per ward

• Bentonville: mayor, city clerk, all eight aldermen

• Bethel Heights: mayor, two of six aldermen

• Cave Springs: mayor, all six aldermen

• Centerton: mayor, city attorney, city clerk, all six alderman

• Decatur: mayor, all six aldermen

• Garfield: mayor, all four aldermen

• Gentry: mayor, city attorney, city clerk, one alderman per ward

• Gravette: mayor, all six aldermen

• Highfill: mayor, all five aldermen

• Little Flock: mayor, all six aldermen

• Lowell: mayor, city clerk, one alderman per ward

• Pea Ridge: mayor, one alderman per ward

• Rogers: one alderman per ward

• Sulphur Springs: mayor, all six alderman

Washington County

• Elkins: mayor, all six aldermen

• Elm Springs: mayor, all six aldermen

• Farmington: mayor, city clerk, city attorney, all eight aldermen

• Fayetteville: city attorney, one alderman per ward

• Greenland: mayor, all eight aldermen

• Johnson: mayor, all six aldermen

• Lincoln: mayor, city clerk, all eight aldermen

• Prairie Grove: mayor, city clerk, city attorney, all eight aldermen

• Springdale: city attorney, all eight aldermen

• Tontitown: mayor, all six aldermen

• West Fork: mayor, city clerk, one alderman per ward

• Winslow: mayor, all six aldermen

NW News on 07/25/2014

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