MONROE - Five seats are open for the upcoming April 4 election, but only four candidates are seeking spots on the Monroe Common Council.
Current incumbents Brooke Bauman, Chris Beer, Ron Marsh and Jeff Newcomer are on the spring ballot. Alderman Reid Stangel, who is in his third term on the council, has not filed nomination papers with City Clerk Carol Stamm.
Due to a change by council members in September, the seats are now at-large positions rather than designated by wards. Any city resident can run for any spot on council, rather than being limited to the ward in which they live.
Each registered candidate with the highest number of votes will serve a two-year term. Because the deadline to file nomination papers with the city passed in early January, anyone aside from the incumbents seeking a council position would have to organize a write-in campaign. Stamm said if this were the case, once the candidate has intent to run they must notify the clerk's office prior to the election.
If no one steps forward, Mayor Louis Armstrong would appoint a new council member. This was done by Armstrong during the last city election, in which he selected Marsh to serve as his replacement on the council.
If someone were to receive the fifth most votes, even if they haven't registered with the clerk, they can choose whether to accept a position on the council. If accepted, the council member would serve a one-year term. If re-elected the following year, the alderman would proceed for two years in office. They would then be scheduled for re-election in even-numbered years. This is due to the change to eliminate ward-based representatives.
Current incumbents Brooke Bauman, Chris Beer, Ron Marsh and Jeff Newcomer are on the spring ballot. Alderman Reid Stangel, who is in his third term on the council, has not filed nomination papers with City Clerk Carol Stamm.
Due to a change by council members in September, the seats are now at-large positions rather than designated by wards. Any city resident can run for any spot on council, rather than being limited to the ward in which they live.
Each registered candidate with the highest number of votes will serve a two-year term. Because the deadline to file nomination papers with the city passed in early January, anyone aside from the incumbents seeking a council position would have to organize a write-in campaign. Stamm said if this were the case, once the candidate has intent to run they must notify the clerk's office prior to the election.
If no one steps forward, Mayor Louis Armstrong would appoint a new council member. This was done by Armstrong during the last city election, in which he selected Marsh to serve as his replacement on the council.
If someone were to receive the fifth most votes, even if they haven't registered with the clerk, they can choose whether to accept a position on the council. If accepted, the council member would serve a one-year term. If re-elected the following year, the alderman would proceed for two years in office. They would then be scheduled for re-election in even-numbered years. This is due to the change to eliminate ward-based representatives.