Filing period to begin for candidates in NWA municipal races

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Anyone who ever thought about running for local office in Northwest Arkansas can now take the leap up until Aug. 17.

The municipal candidate filing period will last until noon Aug. 17. The positions up for grabs vary from city to city.

The Benton and Washington county clerks will handle the paperwork, except for one form. That form, called a statement of financial interest, has a due date of Aug. 20 and goes to the city clerk, not the county.

Municipal candidates have to get enough signatures on a petition in order to get on the ballot. Candidates in first-class cities, such as Gentry and Gravette, have to get at least 30 ward-specific or citywide signatures, depending on the position. Second-class cities, such as Decatur and Highfill, require at least 10. The county clerks’ offices will certify the signatures and have lists available for the different classes of cities.

Candidates also have to fill out a political practices pledge. Municipal elections are nonpartisan, but the pledge means the candidate agrees to comply with state laws regarding running for office.

There’s also the affidavit of eligibility, which is a one-page document that’s exactly what it sounds like.

The statement of financial interest covers sources of income, investments, business interests and other financial information. Only new candidates need to turn in this form; incumbents submit the form annually on Jan. 31.

All four of those documents are associated with filing for running for office. In a separate document, the campaign contribution and expenditure report is where a candidate lines up all of his donations and what he’s spent the money on in trying to get elected. Nonmonetary contributions have to be included. The names of every donor go on this form. It has to be filled out a few times during the course of a campaign, first as a preelection report Oct. 30 and then a final report after the election Dec. 31.

Per state law, a candidate must be a registered voter and resident in the ward he wants to represent. A citywide position requires the candidate live in the city and be a registered voter in the city.

No fees are associated with running for local office.

The Arkansas Municipal League welcomes anyone thinking about running for local office to contact the organization, said Whitnee Bullerwell, communications director. A guidebook is published on the league’s website, arml.org.

“Public service is certainly a commitment. As an organization, we are committed to furthering the cities and towns of Arkansas,” she said. “We’re happy to work with them. We have a membership that is second to none. Our city officials in Arkansas go above and beyond. We’re proud to serve them.”