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City Council races already taking shape? |
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Monday, 24 November 2008 |
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By Mike Bodine
Register Staff
11-22-2008 The dust has barely settled from the November Presidential election, yet five prospective candidates for the March 3, 2009 municipal election are already taking out papers for four city positions up for grabs.
Voters in the Bishop city limits will be asked to cast ballots next March to decide the fate of three City Council positions currently held by Susan Cullen, Frank Crom and Martin “Smiley” Connolly. Also up for election is the City Treasurer position currently held by Robert Kimball.
Papers have been available since Nov. 10 to any registered voter living within the Bishop city limits wanting to run for one of these positions. Five residents took papers within the first three days they were made available, according to city staff.
Incumbents Cullen and Connolly have taken out papers, as have challengers David Stottlemyer, Laura Smith and Mary Baker.
Kimball has taken out papers as well. So far, no challengers have followed suit.
Kimball said by phone Friday that this will be his second time running for the four-year term, but has been treasurer since 2002 when he was appointed to the position by the council when Eugene Perkins, the treasurer at that time, retired.
Kimball is not, as yet, being challenged for the position this cycle and he said he wasn’t challenged during the last election.
“If no one else runs,” Kimball explained, “then the council will reappoint me, as theoretically no election has actually taken place.”
Crom has not taken out papers, but was unavailable for comment on Friday.
It is important to note that even though citizens are taking out papers to run for council positions, it does not necessarily mean they are officially a candidate for office, or that their name will appear on the March ballot.
Sometimes, prospective candidates will use the filing period to “test the waters” before jumping in to the race.
City staff further explained that prospective candidates must meet various qualifications, including being a registered voter living within the city limits, and must return their candidacy papers by the Dec. 10 deadline.
The application includes a petition that must be signed by at least 20 registered voters who also reside within city limits.
Papers for candidacy are available at Bishop City Hall, or call 873-5863 for details.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 16 December 2008 )
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