MONROE - Nomination papers for Mayor Bill Ross' run for re-election in 2012 were submitted last week, but some of the signatures will take a few extra days to qualify.
Volunteers who helped Ross gather about 40 signatures on his nomination papers didn't sign the papers they circulated, and Ross said he mistakenly signed them instead, before submitting them last week to the city clerk's office.
Ross notified City Clerk Carol Stamm Tuesday to report that he had "screwed up."
Stamm said she notified District Attorney Gary Luhman, as required by law, and reported the problem. Luhman, in turn, contacted the state election board to explain the situation.
On Thursday, Stamm received instructions from the election board, via e-mail. The e-mail was addressed to Stamm, with a copy sent to Luhman.
To fix the problem, a correcting affidavit needs to be signed by the circulators of the nomination papers in question and submitted. The volunteers have already submitted handwritten affidavits to the city clerk.
Ross said late Thursday that he was getting the formal affidavit paperwork signed immediately.
"I thought I had to sign the nomination papers, because they were my nomination papers, and signing the affidavits (by circulators) would come later," he said. "We have until Jan. 3, until the process is ended. It's just coming a little faster now."
Ross said this year was the first time he can remember that volunteers have circulated nomination petitions for him. He served six two-year terms before stepping down for four years, and was elected again in 2009.
The volunteers didn't sign the nomination papers "because I didn't tell them to," Ross said.
Ross said he has now submitted 98 total signatures for nomination. By law, he must collect 50 but no more than 100 signatures. Even if the volunteers' 40 collected signatures were not included in the count, Ross would still have enough signatures to move on in the election process.
Michael Boyce, currently the alderman representing Monroe's third ward, has also declared his intention to run for mayor.
The election is April 3.
Volunteers who helped Ross gather about 40 signatures on his nomination papers didn't sign the papers they circulated, and Ross said he mistakenly signed them instead, before submitting them last week to the city clerk's office.
Ross notified City Clerk Carol Stamm Tuesday to report that he had "screwed up."
Stamm said she notified District Attorney Gary Luhman, as required by law, and reported the problem. Luhman, in turn, contacted the state election board to explain the situation.
On Thursday, Stamm received instructions from the election board, via e-mail. The e-mail was addressed to Stamm, with a copy sent to Luhman.
To fix the problem, a correcting affidavit needs to be signed by the circulators of the nomination papers in question and submitted. The volunteers have already submitted handwritten affidavits to the city clerk.
Ross said late Thursday that he was getting the formal affidavit paperwork signed immediately.
"I thought I had to sign the nomination papers, because they were my nomination papers, and signing the affidavits (by circulators) would come later," he said. "We have until Jan. 3, until the process is ended. It's just coming a little faster now."
Ross said this year was the first time he can remember that volunteers have circulated nomination petitions for him. He served six two-year terms before stepping down for four years, and was elected again in 2009.
The volunteers didn't sign the nomination papers "because I didn't tell them to," Ross said.
Ross said he has now submitted 98 total signatures for nomination. By law, he must collect 50 but no more than 100 signatures. Even if the volunteers' 40 collected signatures were not included in the count, Ross would still have enough signatures to move on in the election process.
Michael Boyce, currently the alderman representing Monroe's third ward, has also declared his intention to run for mayor.
The election is April 3.