The signs are there to indicate a busy upcoming municipal election season in Russellville.
Literally, the signs are everywhere.
Telephone poles, yards, sides of the roadway and in the back of pickup trucks.Qualifying for 2016 Alabama municipal elections begins Tuesday, July 5 and ends on Tuesday, July 19 at 5 p.m. All municipal offices (mayor and city council) will appear on the ballot this year.
Already, plastic campaign signs have appeared for several incumbents and challengers. In Russellville, mayor David Grissom and city councilmen David Palmer (District One), William Nale (District Two), Gary Cummings (District Three), Lanny Hubbard (District Four) and Jamie Harris (District Five) all will seek re-election. Grissom, Palmer and Harris are in their first term in their current offices, while Cummings, Nale and Hubbard will look for a third term on election day.
The Russellville City Council voted earlier this year to raise the annual compensation for mayor and city council members effective with the new council. The mayor's salary will be $48,000, and council members will receive $9,600 annually.
Alabama municipal elections are set for Tuesday, August 23, 2016. Runoff elections, if needed, will be held Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
The Free Press has confirmed intentions to seek office from the following Russellville candidates: District One--John Thorn; District Three--Dwight Jackson, Roy Cornelison; District Four--Arthur Elliott, Billy Patterson; District Five--Brent Caldwell.
Belinda Miller, election manager for the city of Russellville, said there is no qualifying fee for either mayor or city council. Interested candidates must come to City Hall and complete all qualifying forms. Candidates must also file with probate judge Barry Moore's office a list of two to five people who will serve as their campaign committee. This form must be filed within five days of qualifying to run for office and must be filed regardless of whether the candidate has reached the $1,000 threshold under the Alabama Fair Campaign Practices Act.
Candidates must also file monthly campaign disclosure reports pursuant to Code of Alabama Sec. 17-5-8 and must file statements of economic interests with the Alabama Ethics Commission. Failure to file required forms results in disqualification and removal from the ballot.
In Phil Campbell, Ann Bragwell will serve as election manager. Bragwell said there is a $50 qualifying fee for mayor and $25 for city council positions.
Steve Bell is the mayor of Phil Campbell, with council members Danny Brown (Place 2), Eddie Barton (Place 3), Lynn Landers (Place 4) and Jim Cartee (Place 5). Roy Nagle resigned last week from his position as councilman Place One due to health-related issues.
For more information on qualifying for political office in Phil Campbell, contact Bragwell at 205-993-5313. For more information on Russellville municipal elections, contact Miller at 256-332-8704, extension 101.
