Aragon re-opens qualifying for next Monday in run for Mayor’s seat
The two-member Aragon City Council voted to approve a measure today allowing for the reopening of qualifying based on state election code allowing for such a move in the event of the death of a candidate.
Mayor Pro Tem Duel Mitchell and Tammy Mulkey both approved the measure, which will open qualifying on Sept. 12, 2016.
Originally, acting Mayor Curtis Burrus had sought to retain the seat and died on Aug. 18 unexpectedly, just after his council seat had been re-opened for the coming special election for the City of Aragon on the November ballot.
Since Burrus died, according to the state code under Title 21, Section 2, Part 155, if a candidate dies while in the middle of an election, “the executive committee may reopen qualification for the office sought by the deceased or withdrawn candidate for a period of not less than one nor more than three days.” Find the full election code here.
So qualifying will be open again on Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the lone day.
This action was prompted after local business owner Garry Baldwin sought to get into the race as a write-in candidate, but after some discussion and look
over election law the city decided to go this route and allow any interested persons to enter the race.
Qualifying will take place at the Board of Elections office located in Cedartown in the Polk County Adminstrative offices at 144 West Ave. The fee to run for mayor is $72, and those interested must be a resident of the city for one full year prior to the date of the election on Nov. 8, plus other requirements which are available in the Aragon City Charter.
Baldwin is expected to enter the race against local resident Melisa Hughes, who had faced a challenge against her candi- dacy during an Aug. 26 Board of Elections meeting which was rejected. That challenge, filed by Mulkey, sought to have her removed from the ballot based on residency requirements which Hughes was able to meet with paperwork showing her a resident for weeks before the year requirement.
Hughes, who spoke out on Sept. 2 following the city council meeting, said that she plans to stay in the race no matter who decides to run.
Though she said she understands the move to allow others to qualify for the race is perfectly legal, she saw it as just another roadblock against her run.
“I actually seriously considered letting them have it, but then I got to thinking about it and realized, that’s what’s wrong with Aragon,” Hughes said. “They’re running people off so they can continue to do what they’re doing.”
She said the current situation in local government is just one of many examples of problems plaguing the city.
Recent events and the previous challenge to her candidacy has not changed her focus of what she feels needs to be done in the city to improve the situation.
Those include a big focus on community-based programs for youth and seniors, ensuring that more community participation grows within the city. She also wants at ways to rebuild the city’s services and economic development.