Filing period for City Council elections is now open
Mayor, two at-large places up for election in May
MURPHY (January 19, 2017) Residents who may have an interest in running for election to a seat on the City Council must file an application with the City Secretary before the mid-February deadline.
“Residents who are considering running for one of the seats up for election are welcome to pick up a candidate packet or obtain the material online, and deliver the documents to City Hall,” says City Secretary Susie Quinn. “Interested individuals must adhere to filing procedures for election to any of those seats.”
Forms can be obtained online by visiting http://www.murphytx.org/DocumentCenter/View/3003. Once there, individuals can complete the forms, download the documents, print them and drop them off at City Hall.
The filing timeframe began on Jan. 18 and closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17. The deadline is firm, and no late applications can be accepted.
The City charter calls for four Council seats, called places, to be up for election every third year. There are, for example, no City Council seats up for election in 2018. This year, the Mayor’s seat, currently occupied by Eric Barna, is up for election. Places 3 and 5, occupied by Mayor Pro Tem Scott Bradley and Sarah Fincannon, respectively, are also on the May 6 ballot.
The places up for election are at-large, meaning that any resident of Murphy, if they meet all of the other requirements, are eligible to place their name in consideration for election.
“Residents who are considering placing their names on the ballot should become familiar with the rules and regulations that apply before submitting their application,” she said. Requirements are listed in the Home Rule Charter tab on the City’s website at http://z2.franklinlegal.net/franklin/Z2Browser2.html?showset=murphyset.
In general terms, candidates for election to the City Council must be qualified voters, and be at least 21 years of age. They must have resided in the City for no less than 12 months prior to Election Day, and must meet all of the requirements of the Texas Election Code.
Once again, applications can be obtained from http://www.murphytx.org/DocumentCenter/View/3003 and must be returned to the City Secretary’s office on the second floor of City Hall, 206 North Murphy Road. Office hours are between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
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