By BRIAN SMITH
Most area cities and school districts are gearing up for the May 11 elections, as the filing period for open seats began Wednesday.
One city that isn’t gearing up for an election is Weatherford, because it won’t have one.
A 2010 charter amendment that changed council terms to three years will keep the city from having a council election this year, according to City Secretary Malinda Nowell.
Under Section 5 of the city’s charter it states, that council members will be elected by residents of the city at large. In 2011, Places 1 and 2 were up for a three-year term of office with the other places, including the mayor, going up for three-year terms in 2012. After that, all terms are on the three-year schedule.
In Hudson Oaks, the Place 2 spot held by Brian Lixey is open as are the place 4 and 5 positions held by Tom Fitzpatrick and Paula Wigley, respectively. All three positions are for two-year terms, according to City Secretary Shelley Major.
Anyone wishing to run for council must first pick up a packet, Major said. Qualifications and requirements for being a council member can be found in the packet. Packets can be picked up every weekday in the city secretary’s office at City Hall, 210 N. Lakeshore Dr. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through March 1, Major said.
Those interested in running for Aledo City Council can pick up candidate packets for the May election at city hall, 200 Old Annetta Road, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays through March 1. Packets can also be downloaded from the city website beginning Tuesday, Feb. 5.
Aledo council members serve two-year terms. The three seats on this year’s ballot are Place 1, held by Kerby Smith; Place 3, held by William McLeRoy; and Place 5, held by Matt Casey.
Democrat staff writer Judy Sheridan contributed to this report.
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